Fraud trial of NS politician focuses on how expenses were filed

HALIFAX – The trial of an Independent member of the Nova Scotia legislature charged with fraud has heard from a retired bureaucrat who testified the internal rules governing expense claims could have been clearer.

Trevor Zinck was charged in 2011 with theft over $5,000, fraud over $5,000 and breach of trust in relation to 10 expense claims filed in 2008-09 for which he was reimbursed just over $10,000.

Zinck has admitted he received the funds from the Office of the Speaker even though he never paid the suppliers listed on the claims.

His lawyer, Lyle Howe, spent much of yesterday putting questions about expense claims rules to Jocelyn Scallion, a former director of administration for the Office of the Speaker.

Scallion told court that aside from an orientation session that briefly dealt with how to file claims, she was unaware of any formal training offered to new members on how to manage their finances.

Scallion went on to say some misunderstandings could have been avoided if the rules were more precise.