'This isn't a crime, it's political'
Jorge Barrera
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Mar 09/01) - As of press time the jury was still out on the fate of two women charged with defrauding and stealing from an aboriginal organization.
Ethel Liske and Helen Edjericon were charged with theft and fraud in August 1999 after a large sum of money was found missing from the Dene Nation. Charges include knowingly signing out advances in their own name without authorization for a combined amount of about $50,000 for at least five years ending in 1999.
 Justice Richard |
Liske was serving as executive director and Edjericon was financial officer for the organization.
The Crown and lawyers for both women gave their summations Thursday morning.
In his summation Tom Lloyd, defence council for Liske, hinted to the jury that his client's charges were politically motivated.
"This isn't a crime," said Lloyd. "It's political."
Lloyd, citing prior testimony from Margaret Gorman, an employee of the Dene Nation, said advances were constantly given to members of the organization.
He also said Liske believed she had the authority to authorize advances.
Peter Fuglsang, defence council for Edjericon, told the jury he didn't believe the matter was for the criminal courts, but for the civil courts.
Fuglsang said there was no attempt by his client to hide her actions.
"Every nickel Helen Edjericon asked for was authorized and put in the record," said Fuglsang.
Crown prosecutor Mark Scrivens said in his summation the fact the numbers were in the books does not mean it wasn't a crime.
"It was not a sophisticated crime," said Scrivner.
"The Crown doesn't have to prove it was sophisticated," he said.
Scrivens said both women knew what they were doing was wrong. He told the jury Liske and Edjericon signed dozens and dozens of checks to their names as advances.
"No one who works for an organization can think they're given a blank check," he said.
Earlier in the proceedings Scrivens asked Liske -- who took the stand -- if she should have asked Dene Nation Chief Bill Erasmus for permission to take out the advances.
Liske said yes.
Scrivens asked Edjericon a similar question when she took the stand and Edjericon answered she didn't feel what she was doing was wrong because "everyone was doing it."
Earlier in the trial the court heard testimony from Dene National Chief Bill Erasmus, who admitted to taking out an advance to cover an income tax problem.
Erasmus also said Liske didn't have the authority to authorize advances. He said most of the advances passed without his knowledge.
The Crown called Mike O'Dell, Dene Nation accountant, Deh Cho Grand Chief Michael Nadli, Denendeh Corporation and Dene Nation employee Margaret Gorman, and Lutsel K'e Chief Felix Lockhart to the stand.
It was the Dene Nation who brought the matter of the advances to the police in August 1999 after their accountant discovered irregularities.
The irregularities, the defence contends, were part of the organization's yearly financial practice.
