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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Police are investigating Sahtu MLA Norman Yakeleya over a sex-related offence involving a minor, Yellowknife RCMP have confirmed.

The investigation was originally for sexual interference with a 14-year-old girl in March 2007 in a Sahtu community.

Cabinet minister Norman Yakeleya denied police are investigating him regarding a sex-related complaint involving a minor when interviewed by Yellowknifer last week. Police have since confirmed an investigation is underway. This photo was taken in mid-2007. - NNSL file photo

If charges are laid it could be changed to sexual assault, RCMP Const. Roxanne Dreilich said Tuesday.

"A decision is being made," said Dreilich of the possible criminal charge, which has not been laid nor proven in court.

On July 22, Yakeleya denied he was involved in any ongoing police investigation when contacted by Yellowknifer.

"No comment, this is rumours," he said. "All rumours."

He added any suggestion that he was being investigated for a sexually-related crime was completely false and there was no truth to it "whatsoever."

A close family member of the youth alleging the sexual misconduct was contacted by Yellowknifer on July 25 and said she was furious.

"I'm very upset for what my (relative) had to go through," she said. "It makes me so mad."

Yakeleya, 49, was named minister responsible for youth by Premier Floyd Roland during the last cabinet shuffle June 30.

On Monday, Roland issued a press release advising Yakeleya's portfolios were removed the previous Friday. The release stated that Yakeleya had to "address a personal matter requiring his full attention."

Kam Lake MLA Dave Ramsay told Yellowknifer yesterday that he found out about the police investigation roughly three weeks ago.

"There are 19 members (of the legislative assembly) and we talk amongst ourselves," said Ramsay, explaining how he heard about the allegation against Yakeleya.

He said after hearing the rumors he confronted Justice Minister Jackson Lafferty but would not say whether Lafferty confirmed there was a police investigation. He indicated some MLAs knew about the investigation before he did, but insisted he could not say who or when they became aware of it.

Ramsay stressed that no charges have been laid yet and that "right now it's speculation."

When asked if he was aware of the allegation about Yakeleya last Friday, Mackenzie Delta MLA David Krutko, responded, "No comment."

Krutko went on to say he had no knowledge of the investigation.

"I'm not even sure what you're talking about. That's the first I've heard of it," he said.

A request to speak to Lafferty was refused by communications staff at the legislative assembly.

Julia Mott, co-ordinator of cabinet communications, promised Yellowknifer an interview with the premier to take place Tuesday but Roland did not call.

Yellowknifer sent an e-mail to the premier's office on Tuesday morning asking when it was that Roland found out about the investigation, why Yakeleya was stripped of his cabinet posts even though he has not been charged with a crime and whether Roland had been briefed on the investigation by police.

Yakeleya's portfolios were all reassigned, with the youth and seniors portfolio and Municipal and Community Affairs going to Health Minister Sandy Lee; Industry, Tourism, and Investment Minister Bob McLeod takes over the Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission; Roland assigned himself as minister responsible for the NWT Power Corporation.

Yakeleya remains in cabinet as a minister without portfolio.

-with files from John Curran