Joe Leong, a former Kamloops councillor, was facing six criminal charges stemming from his role as treasurer of the Kamloops Heritage Railway Society. He will instead plead guilty to contravening two sections of the Society Act, which will result in the criminal charges being stayed.
KTW file photo
A former veteran Kamloops councillor has struck a deal to avoid trial on six criminal charges stemming from his role as treasurer of the Kamloops Heritage Railway Society.
Joe Leong will instead plead guilty to contravening two sections of the Society Act.
Leong’s defence lawyer, Ken Walker, appeared in B.C. Supreme Court yesterday to set the Aug. 11 date, when guilty pleas to two counts will be entered.
Leong will also be sentenced on that day.
In return for pleas under the act, two counts each of fraud, theft over $5,000 and breach of trust will be stayed by the Crown.
Walker said there will be a joint sentencing submission proposed together with the Crown. He declined to provide details on that submission.
Crown prosecutor Chris Balison confirmed the agreement.
The charges were laid in 2013 after Kamloops RCMP was asked by city administration to look into the finances of the Kamloops Heritage Railway Society, where Leong served for years as treasurer.
After an audit of the society’s books was completed, the city still had questions about the group’s accounting practices and what appeared to be two instances of $100,000 being moved out of society bank accounts for several months, then returned.
The audit was called for after Leong’s successor as treasurer of the society had questions about some of the book-keeping.
Walker said the sections of the Society Act that Leong will plea to contravening involve duties of directors and disclosure of outside interests.
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