(File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Court proceedings

‘It was a donation’: accused testifies at RM theft trial

Oct 12, 2021 | 5:00 PM

A former administrator for the Rural Municipality (RM) of Buckland, testified Tuesday it was never her intention to steal from or deprive the RM of any funds or items.

Tara Kerber was charged in November 2019 with theft over $5,000, and entered a plea of not guilty last October. The trial commenced last Wednesday.

According to testimony heard in court from the Crown’s witnesses, the alleged theft had to do with a donation made to the RM from the Prince Albert RCMP detachment. Recognizing that the RM shop had been robbed several times, the RCMP donated a number of goods, with the understanding whichever items they could not use, could be sold, auctioned off or given away, so long as the RM as a whole benefitted and not one individual person. The donated items included various hand and powers tools, an ATV, and dirt bikes.

Kerber acknowledged she had spoken with the RCMP about the donation but was not there personally to pick the items up as she was away attending a work related course. Instead she designated four family members to pick up the items who brought them back to a shop at Kerber’s property as there was no space available she claimed at the RM’s shop, nor was there any staff available to help move it.

Among the Crown’s witnesses was the RCMP officer who initially conducted the inventory of items to donate and was also there for the exchange. He had explained he had made up an inventory list which included photographs. On the stand, Kerber said she was never made aware of any such list until after she was charged.

Court proceedings

Drugs and weapons bust in Stanley Mission, results in two year sentence

12h ago

health care

La Loche recipient of new portable blood analyzer, printer kit

14h ago

Crime

Dangerous driving report at Red Wing, leads to arrest of man with gun

17h ago

“[My husband] wasn’t given a copy so I’ve never seen one,” she said.

In February of last year, a trailer containing 99 items was returned to the RM. The RCMP officer testified the returning trailer appeared lighter than the previous meeting, and he noted a number of items that were missing including a Honda dirt bike, an ATV, a television set, video game consoles and a number of tools. Kerber, who wrote up her own list of items returned, maintained nothing was left behind or kept for personal use.

“I returned everything I had that was of value,” she said.

Kerber explained items such as the SHARP television and a leveler were broken beyond repair and so were thrown out. As for the ATV and dirt bike, she said they were not in working order so were given away for spare parts but neither she nor her family members could recall who they were given to.

One item that was sold was a Milwaukee brand saw for $200. Kerber brought the cash to court last week and explained Tuesday that when she had emptied the storage sheds, she forgot about the envelope she had left on her desk in her house.

“It was an oversight,” she said.

Kerber’s employment with the RM effectively came to an end in July 2019. When asked by Crown lawyer Doug Howell to explain why it took so long for the items to be returned, Kerber said she had been actively looking for a new job, and her focus was not on her past employment.

At the conclusion of his cross examination, Howell advised Kerber it was always her responsibility as the administrator to look after all the items received, and to ensure she had records of everything.

“It was a donation,” Kerber replied.

Also testifying for the defence Tuesday were Kerber’s husband and father, who assisted with the pick up of the items from the RCMP. Both said they had not taken any items for personal use, and both also noted the poor quality of many of the donated items, as well as a number of tools that were tossed out as they were either badly rusted or were missing chargers or batteries.

The case has been adjoured to Oct. 22 for closing submissions. It’s expected Judge H. Harradence will reserve his decision to a later date.

–

nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell