Fraud charges have been laid on a Saskatchewan First Nation that’s been plagued with political infighting. Following an RCMP economic crime unit investigation, former Fond du Lac chief Napoleon Mercredi is charged with fraud over $5,000, theft over $5,000, and breach of trust by a public official.
The case went before the court in Fond du Lac in late August.
Sgt. Hugh Gordon said the charges follow allegations of misappropriation of band funds and money from Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada.
Gordon said it’s alleged hundreds of thousands of dollars are involved.
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Mercredi responded to the allegations by phone, saying he felt singled out by his accusers and there are others who should be named in the charges, adding he think the RCMP was doing its job in responding to the complaints.
Mercredi said to him, theft is taking money without permission and that never happened.
“I don’t have any stressses over these charges or anything like that,” he said, adding he plans to run for chief in the upcoming election on the reserve.
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