Accused in alleged $2.9M fraud wrestles with legal aid
Judge tells Kirk Nosagie Iyekekpolor, charged with 2 counts of fraud, to find lawyer by Sept. 15
An Edmonton man charged with defrauding two Nunavut organizations is struggling to secure a lawyer after two legal aid rejections. (File photo by Jeff Pelletier)
A man accused of defrauding two Nunavut organizations is struggling to secure a lawyer after being rejected by legal aid services in Nunavut and Alberta.
Kirk Nosagie Iyekekpolor of Edmonton is charged with two counts of fraud over $5,000, the RCMP announced in July.
Police accuse him of defrauding the Qikiqtaaluk Business Development Corp. of more than $2.9 million and the Nunavut Film Development Corp. of $26,000.
Iyekekpolor attended his court appearance Monday morning via video conference.
He told Justice Christian Lyons that he’s been dealing with a “whole back and forward” in requesting legal aid for his case.
He said Nunavut Legal Aid rejected him because he’s not a resident of the territory, while legal aid in Alberta would not take on a Nunavut case.
Lyons asked if he had appealed his legal aid rejection. Iyekekpolor said he had not.
Iyekekpolor also said he “can’t afford” to pay for his own lawyer.
“We need to get moving on this,” Lyons said.
The judge instructed Iyekekpolor to do “everything” he can to find a lawyer for his next court date, set for Sept. 15.
What else is he yo do. If he’s being tried in iqaluit and he cab’t afford his own lawyer it’s kinda obvious to me that nunavut legal aid has an obligation to get him legal representation, it’s our rights, so enough with the pitter patter and get at her, the show must go on
You have the right to talk to a lawyer when charged with a crime. You have no right to a free lawyer to try your case in court though. He said Alberta Legal Aid won’t cover a Nunavut case. Alberta Legal Aid also disqualifies you for free aid if you make over $30 000 a year.
Not many free lawyers from Alberta.
I’m not surprised at all. I had the exact same issue: couldn’t receive legal aid in Quebec although I meet the financial criterion but they can’t take a Nunavut case because there’s no reciprocity deal. Nunavut legal aid said the same, because I wasn’t resident I couldn’t access legal aid in Nunavut and to be represented by my province of residency. Pure bureaucracy!
Hire an ex con. Some knows more about the law better than some lawyers. Personal experience. Got me off free, while a legal aid made me do time instead.
There’s someone in Nunavut community (not going to name the town) who got the daycare shut down after the place got bankrupt, few people involved yet they walk free. Justice is all a joke, those people caused so much chaos, parents losing jobs due to no child care yet those who were involved were in luxury vacations where they treated their constituents with expensive meals, took them out for limousine rides, yet the frauds got away and had No jail time.