By Joel van der Veen

MOOSE JAW — Fraud charges against Craik’s former town administrator now total more than $41,000 in misspent funds, according to recent court documents.

The lawyer representing Jeff Murray said Wednesday that she and her client are still reviewing the details of dozens of fraud charges laid against him.

“It’s really early days right now,” Gail Wartman told reporters at the provincial courthouse in Moose Jaw. “We had just received disclosure about a week ago.”

Wartman is representing Jeffrey Todd Murray, 41, who worked as the town administrator for Craik between 2010 and 2014.

Thirty-one charges of fraud were laid against him in March, each of them related to personal purchases allegedly made using a Royal Bank Visa card issued in the town’s name. Two additional fraud charges followed in mid-May.

Police have accused Murray of defrauding the town “by deceit, falsehood or other fraduluent means” to the tune of $41,079.81, according to court documents obtained by the Leader.

Murray, who continues to reside in Craik, was scheduled to make his first court appearance in relation to the charges in Moose Jaw on Wednesday.

He was absent that morning as his lawyer asked for the matter to be adjourned to allow for full review of the material.

Crown prosecutor Brian Hendrickson said he did not object to the adjournment, and Justice D. J. Kovatch granted approval of the request.

For the full story, see the June 6 edition of The Davidson Leader, or phone 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.