• Print
  • Send to a friend
  • Comment (8)
  •  

UPDATE: Former DFO science head charged with fraud

RCMP

RCMP

Published on January 10, 2013
The Telegram
Published on January 10, 2013
Topics :
Department of Fisheries and Oceans , RCMP , St. John's

A former top employee of the local Department of Fisheries and Oceans has been charged by the St. John’s RCMP Commercial Crime Section with numerous counts of fraud.

David Scruton, 59, of St. John’s, is charged with 18 counts of fraud over $5,000, 13 counts of fraud under $5,000 and three counts of conspiracy to commit fraud. The offences occurred between July 1999 and June 2007 during which time it is alleged that over $200,000 was defrauded from the Canadian government.

Scruton is the former head of science for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans in St. John's. He has in excess of 30 years of experience as a research scientist and research manager working with federal and provincial governments and as an environmental consultant. He led and managed a number of large national and international programs on fish habitat research and conducted collaborative research with the utility sector, pulp and paper companies, fishing industry, and transportation sector.

He will appear in provincial court on March 12, 2013.

•••        

Earlier story

The RCMP Commercial Crime Section in St. John’s has charged a former employee of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans with numerous counts of fraud.

The charges consist of 18 counts of fraud over $5,000, 13 counts of fraud under $5,000 and three counts of conspiracy to commit fraud.

David Scruton, 59, of St. John's  will be appearing in provincial court in St. John’s on March 12.  

The offences are alleged to have occurred between July 1999 and June 2007. The RCMP says during this time, it‘s alleged that over $200,000 was defrauded from the Canadian government.

Comments

  • Username
    nothing going on here.
    - January 11, 2013 at 12:39:29

    george Baker, Liberal MP for Newfoundland, headed up a committee to look into DFO, before DFo was almalgamated with Coast Guard. If i remember correctly, George Baker said , the only way to deal with DFO is to turn the department bottomup. the committee findings must still be on some shelf somewhere. the government will only be held accountable when WE the people hold it accountable. sorry sparky, one federal Govt department will never open " that" can of worms on another federal govt department. BOGUS has it right.

    Submit a comment

  • Username
    david
    - January 11, 2013 at 11:41:39

    DFO. Fraud. .....Hunh.

    Submit a comment

  • Username
    RANDY from the ROCK
    - January 10, 2013 at 17:52:12

    So is it possible that our fishery reports to the federal government may be compromised if this person was the head of that department, I may be out of line here, but I would like to know.

    Submit a comment

  • Username
    Bogus
    - January 10, 2013 at 13:50:18

    No way RCMP are not opening anything, corruption is rampant in the Govt. they make a few examples to keep others in line and to keep it from getting out of hand. Usually they are just quietly fired except in the cases of large amounts of cash!

    Submit a comment

  • Username
    Sheri
    - January 10, 2013 at 12:29:26

    Good one Velma!! So true!

    Submit a comment

  • Username
    Velma Green
    - January 10, 2013 at 11:20:30

    First Revenue Canada, then Service Canada and now Federal Fisheries. Federal Government employees gone wild. I wonder what disability will be used in Scruton's defense?

    Submit a comment

  • Username
    sparky
    - January 10, 2013 at 10:22:47

    I would bet that this is 'the first of many', its like the RCMP have "opened a can of worms".

    Submit a comment

  • Username
    sparky
    - January 10, 2013 at 10:21:47

    I would bet that this is 'the first of many', its like the RCMP have "opened a can of worms".

    Submit a comment

Submit a comment

Submit a comment (we keep all emails private)
Agreement

We ask that users remain courteous. You may not post insulting, discriminatory or inappropriate content, which may be removed at our discretion. We are not responsible for user content and opinions. Use of this site as well as content submission & ownership are governed by our Conditions of Use and Privacy Policy.

Member organizations should be non-profit in nature, and promote legal activities. Any organization found promoting illegal activities or commercial products or services will be deleted from the site.

I agree with these conditions.

Advertising

loading...

Newsletter

Please enter your email to receive our free newsletter

Subscribe to news alerts

Recent Announcements

Current Obituaries in The Labradorian

Find an Announcement

Find an Announcement

Labradorian Twitter

Advertising