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The commission declined to discuss its investigation, but in an April 19 ruling, a commission panel denied an application to release funds from two frozen bank accounts linked to the West Vancouver couple.

The couple named in the civil claims are Virginia Mary Tan, 64, and her husband Patrick Eng Tien Tan, 73. Their son Marcus Soon-Keen Tan, in his late 20s, who lives with his parents in West Vancouver, is also named in some of the claims.

Virginia and Patrick Tan were pushed into bankruptcy on April 29 by one of the civil cases, a move that automatically stayed other civil actions seeking payment of investment losses, which will now be determined by a trustee. However, civil actions against Marcus Tan continue.

And all three Tans are named in the securities commission ruling.

The hundreds of pages of court files paint a detailed picture of the alleged scheme.

The Tans have denied the allegations and also said they do not owe money in responses to a handful of the civil claims.

The Tans did not respond to The Sun’s requests for interviews by phone or through emails.

The Tans’ lawyer, John Whyte, said it is not appropriate for the Tans to comment because of the civil actions and the securities commission investigation.

“In the circumstances, there’s nothing properly they can say at this time,” said Whyte.

The investors that filed claims were also reluctant to discuss the alleged Ponzi scheme.

But documents filed in the 11 claims, including affidavits from a handful of investors, show the alleged investment dealings began among close friends and circulated among relatives and acquaintances including a circle of people in the congregation of Christ The Redeemer Catholic Church in West Vancouver.