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Forensic audit to dig into Splatsin First Nation finances

Forensic audit at Splatsin

The North Okanagan's Splatsin First Nation will hold a community information session next week to discuss a forensic audit of the band's operations.

In a post on its website Wednesday, the First Nation said the audit will be completed by accounting firm MNP.

The audit will be led by Lisa Majeau Gordon, MNP's national leader of forensics and litigation support.

It's not known if the investigation is looking for evidence of any wrongdoing, but the band's public statement suggests that may be the case.

Splatsin communications spokesperson Ken Barnes said the auditor specializes in First Nations cases.

The audit comes as part of a "push by Kukpi7 (Chief) Doug Thomas to ensure all financial transactions of Splatsin are transparent to the community."

The effort is being led by the chief, Barnes added.

"What it finds will be a means to investigate further, if needed."

A community Q&A session will be held Monday at the Splatsin Community Centre, from 5 to 8 p.m.

Gordon will provide a presentation outlining the process that will be undertaken.

Gordon has "specialized exclusively in investigative and forensic accounting since 1996," Splatsin says.

She works for both criminal and civil courts and "has provided forensic accounting services to the RCMP for 10 years on organized crime, terrorist financing and other serious financial crime cases across Canada."

Castanet has reached out to Chief Thomas for more information.

Thomas unseated longtime Chief Wayne Christian in January of last year.

An appeal of the results in that election was launched and later was dismissed in April.

Thomas won the election by just five votes.



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