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Former Supt. charged with fraud

Former Pembina Hills school division Supt. Richard Harvey has been charged with defrauding the division by submitting excessive expense claims. Alberta Justice spokesperson Jason Maloney confirmed Oct.
Richard Harvey
Richard Harvey

Former Pembina Hills school division Supt. Richard Harvey has been charged with defrauding the division by submitting excessive expense claims.

Alberta Justice spokesperson Jason Maloney confirmed Oct. 16 that Harvey is charged with fraud over $5,000 and breach of trust for allegedly submitting excessive expense claims to the school division between May 1, 2006 and Dec. 31, 2010.

He is scheduled to make his first court appearance in Barrhead Provincial Court at 10 a.m. on Jan. 8, 2013, and not in Court of Queen’s Bench in Edmonton as reported last week.

The allegations against him have not been proven in court.

Harvey, 61, now resides in Newfoundland. The Westlock News reached him at his home last Tuesday, but he would say little about the charges.

“I have no comment and I’m not aware of the charge,” he said.

This is the first time the Westlock News has received official confirmation that the former superintendent has been accused of misusing his expense account.

Harvey left his post at the division in October 2010 under mysterious circumstances. At the time the division would only say that he was no longer an employee, without offering further details.

Details surrounding his departure are the subject of an information request under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP), which is currently in the last stages of a fee-waiver appeal.

An adjudicator heard evidence at an oral inquiry in August, and is preparing a decision.

Shortly following Harvey’s departure, Barrhead RCMP began an investigation into an unnamed Pembina Hills employee relating to an expense account, but would not provide the name of the accused.

Sgt. Bob Dodds told the Barrhead Leader earlier this month that the two charges would be laid, and confirmed a week later that it would happen. He did not name the accused, saying he didn’t think there was a public safety risk.

“Everyone is innocent until proven guilty,” he said. “I don’t want them convicted in the court of public opinion. I don’t believe it’s fair to put a name out there.”

The recommendation to lay charges ultimately came from the Fort Saskatchewan Crown prosecutor’s office after the “K” Division Commercial Crimes Unit completed an investigation in August.

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