Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services

NNSL (Nov 02/98) - The mayor of Hall Beach was fired last week after he was convicted and sentenced for committing fraud under $5,000.

Jayko Simonie pleaded guilty to the charge on Oct. 21 in his north Baffin community before territorial court judge Beverly Brown.

He received an eight month conditional sentence and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $4,000 to the hamlet of Hall Beach.

Simonie was originally charged with the crime in early August following an RCMP investigation into funds that went missing from the Amittuq Radio Station during a two-year period.

The hamlet council met two days after his conviction and decided to release the 42-year-old resident, who had served as mayor since November of 1996, from his mayoral duties.

"The council met on the evening of (October) the 23rd, discussed it and decided upon it at that meeting," said Bryan Martin, the hamlet's senior administrator.

"Jopie Kaernerk was nominated by council to assume the role of mayor."

Martin explained the interim nomination would last only until Dec. 14 of this year when scheduled municipal elections will be held across the region.

He said that Percy Pikuyak resigned from his position of deputy mayor following Simeonie's dismissal because of his intention to run as mayor in the upcoming election.