Fraud case of ex-Liberal MP, current Ontario mayor, due in court
LONDON, Ont. - Lawyers for an Ontario mayor who is facing criminal charges stemming from his time as a Liberal member of Parliament will appear in court today.
Joe Fontana was charged in November by the RCMP with fraud under $5,000, breach of trust by a public official and uttering forged documents.
Police say the value of the alleged fraud is $1,700, and the London Free Press has reported that a Government of Canada cheque for that amount was given to a London club to cover a deposit for the wedding reception for Fontana's son in 2005.
Fontana's first court appearance on the charges is set for Tuesday, but his lawyer Gord Cudmore says the mayor won't be in court.
Lawyers will be appearing on his behalf and the case is expected to be adjourned to another date.
Fontana has refused to step down as mayor while the charges are pending, denying any wrongdoing and Cudmore says he will be pleading not guilty.
