Former Fort McPherson, N.W.T., finance director wanted by RCMP

Fort McPherson's former director of finance is wanted by theRCMP after failing to appear in court oncharges of fraud against the hamlet.

Ina Flossie Koe, 44,was charged last yearwith two counts of fraud over $5,000 and one count of breach of trust by a public officer.

Shefailed to appear in court twice in December. The defence lawyer present that day attempted to contact Koe, whose last known address in 2015 was in Whitehorse.

Koe is now on the RCMP's Northwest Territories wanted list.

She is accused of defrauding the hamlet of Fort McPherson of $424,932.59 between 2010 and 2013. It's alleged she bought personal items and transferred funds to herself from the hamlet's credit card.

The RCMP said because the order issued for Koe's arrest is a Northwest Territories warrant they have to make arrangements with another jurisdiction for Koe's arrest.

"Investigators have been in contact with RCMP of the other jurisdiction that Koe is believed to be in," said ElenoreSturko, anRCMP spokesperson.

Bank accounts investigated

Court documents, unsealed in December, show a judge granted the RCMP permission to access four of Koe's accounts with the Bank of Montreal and CIBC in Yellowknife.

RCMP also accessed more than15 bank accounts of two other peopleunderinvestigation. According to the documents, police said they wereinvestigating those accounts because theysuspected crimes of fraud, possession of the proceeds of crime and money laundering.

This week the Northwest Territories government announced the hamlet had successfully paid off its ballooning $2 million deficit.

The territorial government declined to comment about the impact the alleged fraud had on the hamlet's past deficit, saying it was before the courts. But Municipal and Community Affairs Deputy MinisterTom Williamssaid the bulk of Fort McPherson's debt came from the previous council's decisions to not raise utilityand user fees.

Theterritory disbanded the hamlet's council in2014 after the deficit ballooned.

The hamlet will be holding elections for a new council and mayor in December.