A former B.C. Liberal government ministerial aide placed under house arrest after pleading guilty to political corruption charges has been put on electronic monitoring for a television interview.

David Basi admitted in B.C. Supreme Court Monday he breached his sentencing conditions by giving an interview outside the home of Bob Virk, the other aide who also pleaded guilty in charges related to the $1 billion B.C. Rail sale in 2003.

Basi must wear an electronic monitoring device for six months and obtain advance permission from his supervisor to leave his home for permitted activities.

“These are onerous conditions. You understand that, don’t you Mr. Basi?” asked Associate Chief Justice Anne MacKenzie.

Outside the court political commentator Michael Geoghegan, a Basi friend, said the RCMP pressured Basi to cooperate with what he said is their intention to regain evidence from the trial in his possession and destroy it, jeopardizing a possible public inquiry.

Bill Tieleman writes about the Basi-Virk trial for The Tyee and 24 Hours Vancouver.