The presumption of innocence is a fundamental right for each and every Canadian citizen.
And that presumption must adhere even to high-ranking public servants who are paid big salaries through taxpayer dollars.
Now that the Barrhead detachment of the RCMP have officially launched a fraud investigation into alleged financial impropriety against an unnamed employee with the Pembina Hills Regional Division, it’s surely going to lead to a lot of speculation.
Sgt. Bob Dodds, detachment commander for the Barrhead RCMP detachment, said an official investigation into fraud allegations is now underway after he met with and talked to senior administration with the PHRD late last week.
“As a result, we’ve initiated an investigation into allegations of fraud over $5,000,” Dodds said. “The allegation is fraudulent activity relating to expense accounts for one specific employee. Until we lay an actual charge, we will not be releasing the name of that person as would be the case in any other criminal investigation.”
Dodds would not add any further comment when asked if the investigation centres around Richard Harvey, the former superintendent of education with PHRD, who took a leave of absence from his job in late September.
During the last week of October, PHRD officials confirmed Harvey was no longer an employee with PHRD.
No one in authority would comment on whether Harvey was fired, resigned or left for personal reasons. No one would also comment on whether Harvey was given a severance package.
What is known is a retirement party scheduled to honour Harvey was postponed and Harvey and his wife have left town.
This has led to wild speculation in the community about exactly what happened, but this has not changed administration’s decision to remain silent.
Dodds said because most fraud allegations are complicated and involve a lot of paperwork, officers from the RCMP’s K Division Commercial Crimes Unit will be involved and could likely take over the investigation.
Only when official criminal charges are laid will the name of the person under investigation be revealed, said Dodds. That is fair enough.
At this point, there are only allegations and no one has been found guilty of anything.
But now that police are involved, it’s only a matter of time before everyone in this community finds out exactly what happened and if any funds were misappropriated. If anyone is charged with committing fraud within a local school board, it’s obviously a very serious matter and all members of the public deserve to know the details.
But until a criminal charge is laid, the presumption of innocence must apply.
Even if criminal charges are filed down the road, rest assured PHRD brass will continue their collective vow of silence saying they can’t comment because the matter is before the courts.
The fact this is taxpayer money and taxpayers deserve answers doesn’t seem to matter at all, which is very frustrating.
But the truth will emerge and hopefully sooner than later now that a police investigation is underway.
