Joe Leong faces two counts each of theft over $5,000, breach of trust and fraud.
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September 04, 2013 - 10:02 AM
KAMLOOPS - A former Kamloops councillor who faces multiple charges following a fraud investigation has pleaded not guilty and has elected a trial by judge and jury.
Joe Leong is charged with two counts each of fraud, theft over $5,000 and breach of trust following an investigation into the Kamloops Heritage Railway Society.
The alleged offences date back to Feb. 10, 2011 and March 26, 2012. Former society president Glen Wideman has said allegations against Leong, also former treasurer for the society, stem from an incident when Leong was allegedly found moving around $100,000 from a society account to his own business account and then back again.
The society was in flux in mid-2012 when an investigation was prompted involving the City of Kamloops and ultimately the RCMP.
Charges were laid on Leong last month.
Meanwhile, the society is working to get Steam Locomotive 2141 back on the tracks after it was cancelled this year due to mechanical issues. The City recently handed over $54,000 for the cause.
Leong has yet to comment to local media and has not responded to numerous attempts for contact.
Leong is expected to appear again in court later this month to fix a date for a preliminary inquiry.
To contact a reporter for this story, email: jwallace@infotelnews.ca, call: (250) 319-7494 or tweet: @jess__wallace.
News from © iNFOnews, 2013