REGINA – A second Saskatchewan MLA charged with fraud will be back in provincial court later this month.
Quill Lakes NDP representative Murray Koskie made his first appearance Dec. 21 after he was charged with two counts of fraud over $1,000 and two counts of breach of trust. He entered no plea and will reappear Jan. 31. The charges involve refunds for the politician’s communications expenses.
RCMP said the charges against Koskie are not related to an investigation of MLA expense accounts that was revealed last February. Koskie resigned as highways minister last June because of that investigation.
On Dec. 2, Arm River PC MLA Gerry Muirhead was charged with fraud and breach of trust, also involving the communications allowance.
Muirhead was in provincial court Dec. 23 when he elected trial by a Court of Queen’s Bench judge alone. A two-day preliminary hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to try Muirhead will be held July 12 and 13.
Both Koskie and Muirhead are not participating in their respective caucus meetings until the charges have been resolved.
