Yellowknife (Dec 17/04) - The case of two senior federal officials accused of wasting meat during a big game hunt in September of 2002 is scheduled to be appealed in Supreme Court next month.

The Crown is looking to overturn a territorial court decision that dismissed a host of Wildlife Act charges against Lorne Tricoteux and Alexander Glowach - both managers with the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada.

Tricoteux and Glowach were charged with squandering caribou meat during a hunt near Indian Hill Lake between Sept. 21 and 23, 2002. In May, Judge Bernadette Schmaltz ruled the Crown's office filed the charges after the statutory limitation period had expired.

In court documents, Crown attorneys said Schmaltz "erred in law" when she made the decision. The appeal hearing was originally scheduled for Friday in Supreme Court, but lawyers for both sides agreed to adjourn it until Jan. 24. Tricoteux and Glowach each face a maximum of 16 years in prison and a $16,000 fine. Two other men charged in connection with the incident had their cases diverted to a community justice circle in Rae.