Auditor general refers five files on MLA expenses to RCMP
Posted May 18, 2010 08:46:09 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Nova Scotia’s auditor general says a forensic audit revealed four former and one current MLA may have committed illegal acts related to expense claims.
Jaques Lapointe launched the investigation after an earlier probe of MLA expenses revealed inappropriate and excessive claims.
In a release today, he says the forensic audit found evidence of possible illegal activity, and the files on the five people were turned over to the RCMP last Wednesday for further investigation.
Lapointe does not name the individuals in question, or release details about the expense claims in question, saying that would interfere with the police investigation.
He also says the MLAs currently under investigation have not been told their files have been referred to the RCMP, and their names have not been provided to the party leaders or the speaker of the legislature.
Two MLAs, Richard Hurlburt of the Tories and Dave Wilson of the Liberals, have resigned since the February report was released. The legislature also passed a new bill during the spring session to change the rules governing member expenses.
Lapointe’s initial audit revealed questionable purchases from constituency expense accounts, including big-screen TVs, an espresso machine, custom-built furniture, computers, digital cameras and even a video game.
