Former Co-Manager of Attawapiskat Reserve Charged with Fraud & Theft
Pic Courtesy from CBC
CBC News
The former co-manager of Attawapiskat First Nation is facing fraud and theft charges for writing a $51,000 cheque.
Clayton Kennedy is charged with fraud and theft over $5,000.
The charges against him are listed on a charge sheet filed March 27 by Det.-Const. Trevor Martin of the Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service.
The document alleges the fraud “by writing a cheque” occurred in Attawapiskat on or about Aug. 28, 2012, and that the stolen money belonged to the Attawapiskat First Nation…
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Diana Mehta, The Canadian Press
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A man who once handled the finances of the troubled northern Ontario reserve of Attawapiskat faces fraud and theft charges stemming from what police are calling “an isolated incident.”
The Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service said Tuesday that Clayton Kennedy, 62, was charged with one count each of fraud over $5,000 and theft over $5,000 on March 26.
Kennedy was the reserve’s co-manager on and off from 2001 to 2012 and is also the common law spouse of Attawapiskat’s high profile chief, Theresa Spence.
Police said their investigation into Kennedy began in February last year after they received a complaint from the band about a fraud committed in Attawapiskat, a community of about 2,000 which lies on the frigid western shore of James Bay.
“It was alleged to have occurred in August of 2012,” said Sgt. Jackie George. “As far as we’re concerned, this is an isolated incident.”
Attawapiskat’s council said the band went to police after conducting its own internal investigation.
“This is a very serious matter,” it said in a statement. “The First Nation entrusted Mr. Kennedy to handle funds on behalf of the members of the Attawapiskat First Nation.”
The council added that Spence has “recused herself” from any involvement in the issue.
Kennedy, currently the co-manager of the Taykwa Tagamou Nation in Cochrane, Ont., which is south of Attawapiskat, was released with conditions and is set to appear in court on May 28.
He did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A woman answering the phone at the Taykwa Tagamou Nation repeatedly said “no comment” before hanging up when The Canadian Press asked to speak with Kennedy.
The allegations against him have not been proven in court….
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He is doing this to a reserve that is said to have poor living conditions.
It makes me sad for the people of the reserve. It’s kind of like our government pushing us around wrongly using funds on a smaller scale. In the end people suffer for it and kids are cold and hungry which is pretty heart breaking all around.