The former manager of public works in West Nipissing will appear in Ontario Court of Justice Feb. 26 to answer charges related to financial irregularities in that community.
Luc Rifou, 43, of West Nipissing, faces two charges of fraud over $5,000, two charges of fraud upon government and single charges of conspiracy to commit an indictable offense, utter forged documents and breach of public trust.
Rifou was scheduled for a preliminary hearing Monday at the North Bay Courthouse. The case was adjourned and neither Rifou nor his counsel appeared.
Two co-accused – Marc Gagnon, West Nipissing’s former director of public works and Steve Morrison, owner of MX Construction Inc. in West Nipissing – both pleaded guilty in earlier appearances.
Gagnon, who is now the chief administrative officer for the Municipality of French River, pleaded guilty of uttering forged documents in court Friday and was sentenced to a six-month conditional sentence.
Morrison was sentenced to six months house arrest in November after pleading guilty to one count each of fraud over $5,000 and uttering forged documents.
Read the original story over at the Nugget.
