Issues of disclosure have been delaying proceedings in fraud charges against an ex-chief of Mosquito First Nation and five others, however the next step toward possibly going to trial should take place March 2 in North Battleford Provincial Court.
Former chief Noel Stone Jr., along with former councillors Milton Oxebin and Elbert Pahsaknunk, Derrick Graham and Anderson Moosomin are all charged with fraud related to alleged vote buying on the reserve. The case against the five individuals came up Friday in provincial court at which time the judge indicated he would expect election from the defence at the next court date.
The charges stem from the April 14, 2011 band election on Mosquito First Nation, won by Stone. Soon after that vote, opponents appealed the result to Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development alleging corruption.
An independent third-party investigation was conducted. In February 2013, the department declared Chief Stone, as well as councillors Oxebin and Pahsaknunk, guilty of “corrupt practice” under s.78 (2)(b) (iii) of the Indian Act.
Pahsaknunk resigned from council in advance of the ruling, while Stone and Oxebin were immediately removed from office and declared ineligible from running as candidates for chief or council for a period of two years.
In April of 2014, following a lengthy police investigation, these three individuals along with Graham and Moosomin were charged. At least a half dozen court dates have taken place since then.
