Those who know former Olympian Harold Backer are expressing relief.
The 52-year-old former investment banker vanished in November 2015 after telling his wife he was going for a bike ride, but was later seen boarding a Coho Ferry headed Port Angeles, Washington.
Backer surprised everyone by showing up at the Victoria Police station last week and turning himself in.
Former Olympic Rower Adam Kreek says he's just happy that Backer is alive and that he did the right.
“I think he did the right thing by coming back and turning himself out and going through the legal procedure and figuring out how he is going to pay for his alleged crimes most effectively”
Kreek says he thinks the rowing community will welcome him back one he pays his dues to society.
Backer is well-known in the local rowing community, having represented Canada in 3 Olympic Games.
He is facing two counts of over $5,000 and is scheduled to be in court on Tuesday.
According to court documents Backer has admitted in correspondence he was engaged in a fraudulent "pyramid scheme" in which he had lost all funds invested by clients in My Financial Backer Corporation.