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Former Penticton minor hockey referee is facing a fraud charge

A former Penticton Minor Hockey Association official is facing a fraud charge in connection with alleged missing funds.
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A former Penticton minor hockey ref is facing a charge of fraud allegedly related to missing funds from the Penticton Minor Hockey Association.

A former Penticton Minor Hockey Association official is facing a fraud charge in connection with alleged missing funds.

Cpl. Don Wrigglesworth of Penticton RCMP said Glenn Charbonneau, who worked briefly as interim referee in chief last season, is scheduled to make his first appearance in provincial court Nov. 16.

Police began an investigation after the Penticton Minor Hockey Association (PMHA) officials contacted them in the spring about payments which had allegedly not been made to referees, most of them younger individuals.

The fraud charge is for under $5,000 and while the exact amount was not disclosed, it is believed to be in excess of $1,000.

The charge comes on the heels of a lawsuit filed by the PMHA against the estate of former treasurer, the late Sandy Elder, who was accused of embezzling more than $315,000 over a three-year period starting in 2010.

Read more: Family says they are scapegoats for PMHA

In total, nine defendants were listed in that suit, filed in May, 2014, including some of Elders family members.

A forensic audit found in part she allegedly altered cheques, faked invoices, plus cash transactions for referee payments to get the money.

Officials of PMHA declined to comment about the current matter involving Charbonneau.