A 61-year-old man was charged last week in connection with a fraud investigation into the expense accounts of a former Pembina Hills school division employee.
The Newfoundland resident is accused of fraud over $5,000 and breach of trust. Police are not releasing his name.
Last Friday, Barrhead RCMP Sgt. Bob Dodds said the matter was scheduled for Jan. 8, 2013, at the Court of Queen’s Bench in Edmonton.
He said the accused was not required to appear at this stage. Instead, his lawyer was likely to enter a plea to the two charges on his behalf.
The allegations follow an investigation by the “K” Division Commercial Crimes section in Edmonton after a fraud complaint was filed in October 2010.
The inquiry started on Nov. 5, 2010, shortly after former PHRD Supt. Richard Harvey left his post without any explanation.
Recently, Crown prosecutors in Fort Saskatchewan recommended that charges be laid. Dodds said the case might be beyond the resources of the Fort Saskatchewan office, since it was likely to be a very complicated and time-consuming prosecution. In that case the file would be sent to another office, such as the Edmonton Rural & Regional Response Office.
