Manitoba chief's theft gets 1-year sentence
CBC News | Posted: May 31, 2004 5:06 PM | Last Updated: May 31, 2004
An aboriginal leader received a one-year suspended sentence on Monday for stealing money from her Manitoba band.
Margaret Swan was grand chief of the Southern Chiefs Organization in March when she pleaded guilty to theft over $5,000.
Swan stole cheques worth $35,000 from the Lake Manitoba First Nation in 2000 while she was the band's chief.
Judge Robert Kopstein ordered Swan to perform 50 hours of community service work and to pay back the stolen money. A payment of $12,000 is due within a week.
- FROM MARCH 31, 2004: Swan placed on administrative leave
The defence had requested a conditional sentence, which would have left Swan without a criminal record. Kopstein rejected that, saying it couldn't be justified given the seriousness of the offence.
Swan apologized to the court. "I made some mistakes," she said. "I take full responsibility for that."
The court was told that Swan bought a sport utility vehicle and a house after she withdrew band money in two unauthorized cheques and deposited it in her personal bank account.
The Southern Chiefs Organization, which represents 36 aboriginal communities in Manitoba, fired Swan as grand chief. She won the election for the $85,000 a year job in 2000.