Former M.D. official pleads not guilty to fraud

Vauxhall Advance

 The former director of corporate services at the M.D. of Taber was charged with fraud over $5,000 for allegedly charging personal purchases to M.D. credit cards and obscuring the charges. The accused, Bryan Badura, appeared in Taber court on Sept. 10 with counsel and entered a not guilty plea. The matter will now proceed to either a trial or voluntary resolution.

  According to a June 8 story in the Medicine Hat News, the Taber Police Service said they had charged Badura after opening an investigation last September when they were contacted by the M.D. “Authorities say that over an 11 month period, unauthorized purchases totalling $11,000, were made. That amount has since been repaid,” the story said.

On Sept. 12, 2023, the M.D. released a public statement addressing the internal investigation that took place. CAO Arlos Crofts said, “These allegations have weighed heavily on us, as we are committed to maintaining public confidence. Upon the emergence of these concerns in January 2023, the municipal Senior Administration took prompt action. This includes conducting a thorough internal investigation, and briefing Council once we were apprised of the situation. Subsequently, Council took immediate steps and transferred the investigation to local law enforcement for further examination. The outcomes of the law enforcement inquiry are matters for the police service and justice system. We will respect the process and abstain from making any further comments on the matter at this time.”

 Reeve (at the time) Merrill Harris said, “When we learned of this incident, we were shocked, dismayed, and disappointed. We want to thank our Municipal Administration and the Taber Police Service for dealing with this incident in a prompt and professional manner. We appreciate the open working relationship between the Taber Police Service, Administration and Council.”

 Brittany Hnatiuk, student-at-law with Connolly Shurtz Law, appeared with Badura on Sept. 10 to enter a not guilty plea. Prosecutor Bob Morrison said the Crown would likely need 240 minutes to try the case, but the matter was adjourned to Oct. 1 to fix a trial date. The delay allows both sides to determine whether or not a pre-trial conference is necessary. A pre-trial conference can be used to identify the facts that are agreed upon or are in dispute; clarify the issues between the parties; and attempt to reach a resolution by way of a voluntary agreement.