Kelowna

The tax man is looking into allegations of tax fraud levied against one of Kelowna's oldest businesses.

CHBC News has obtained copies of a search warrant slapped on James Haworth and Son Jewellers.

The warrant alleges the Kelowna jeweller withheld more than $200,000 in provincial sales taxes dating back to 2004.

The provincial tax authority apparently opened the investigation after a company accountant came forward with allegations of fraud.

The accountant, hired last March, says he quit after just three months on the job.

He complained that company owner Heather Haworth, was directing the bookkeeper to under-report sales figures to avoid paying the full amount of provincial sales tax.

Haworth's lawyer refutes the allegations.

No charges have been laid and the investigation continues.

In a separate matter, while the alleged fraud was taking place, Haworth claims an employee, a former book keeper, was stealing from the company.

She says the bookkeeper, who was recently dismissed, admitted to stealing money from the company.

The company lawyer says an investigation was launched after the employee left and that investigation found 'multiple' thousands of dollars had been stolen.