The case against several accused of treaty land entitlement fraud on Poundmaker First Nation is going to trial.
In provincial court in Cut Knife Tuesday, counsel for eight of the nine individuals accused entered an election for a trial in Queen's Bench court by judge alone.
Ivan Frank, who was in court, represents two of the accused, current Poundmaker Chief Duane Antoine and former chief Ted Antoine. Both face two charges each of theft, fraud and breach of trust against a public official and one count each of criminal breach of trust.
Andrea Rohrke appeared by conference call representing Colin Favel, Bryan Tootoosis, Irene Tootoosis, Norman Antoine, Hickson Weenie and Burton Baptiste, who also face charges of theft, fraud and breach of trust in connection to the same case.
The next step for those eight individuals will be setting the dates for a preliminary hearing. The two lawyers and prosecutor Jim Taylor have agreed on Oct.17 as the next court date in the case.
Judge David Kaiser adjourned the matters for the eight individuals to that date in North Battleford Provincial Court. It is expected dates for the preliminary hearing will be set at that time.
As well, it is anticipated a pre-trial management conference will be set up in advance of the preliminary hearing.
The charges the accused face are all in connection to money alleged to be misspent from the Treaty Land Entitlement Fund of Poundmaker First Nation, located south of the Battlefords. The allegations go back to 2004.
A ninth accused, Victoria McMillan also appeared in court Tuesday. She also faces theft, fraud and breach of trust charges, but is still attempting to line up a lawyer and is making an application for a court-appointed counsel.
Her application for counsel will be heard in North Battleford on Oct. 14 at 10 a.m.
