Accused fraudster appears in court

An Iqaluit man charged with defrauding the Nunavut Association of Municipalities out of more than $44,000 made his first appearance in the Nunavut Court of Justice Jan. 8.

Paul Kowmageak, 41, a former employee of the association, is alleged to have defrauded $44,802.44 between May 15, 1999, and March 12, 2000. Iqaluit RCMP charged Kowmageak with fraud in mid-November.

Kowmageak appeared in court this week without a lawyer. Justice Robert Kilpartick told Kowmageak that he’s facing a serious charge and advised him to find a lawyer to assist him. Kilpatrick asked him return with a lawyer on Jan. 29.