Fraud and theft charges dismissed
Terry Halifax
Northern News Services
Hay River (Mar 12/01) - A 15-year veteran of the RCMP was acquitted Friday of fraud and theft charges.
Cpl. Merle Carpenter was accused of defrauding the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation (IRC) of $15,000 in training funds related to him obtaining a commercial pilot's licence and the theft of $5,000 from Deh Cho Air in Fort Liard.
Over the course of the five-day trial, prosecutor Judy Hartley called 12 witnesses, including Nellie Courneyea, CEO of the IRC and Shane Parrish, CEO of the Acho Dene Koe group of companies.
Judge E.R. Wachowich believed Carpenter's testimony.
"I'm accepting the accused's version of what happened here," Wachowich said in his ruling. "The accused wanted nothing more than to get his commercial pilot's license."
Carpenter said he's suffered "a lot of sleepless nights and heartache" over the charges and was relieved to be finished with the case.
"The bottom line was I wanted my pilot's license and maybe I had blinders on."
Carpenter was suspended with pay when the charges were laid and will now face the RCMP disciplinary board.
Now stationed in Fort Simpson, he said he plans to resume his flight training as soon as possible.
He estimates his legal costs at near $25,000 and plans to recoup the funds through a civil action, if necessary
