Fraud trial of former Sipekne’katik Finance Director set to begin May 2016

Jeff Hayes leaves court July 16 after judge orders him to stand trial on fraud, theft charges./Photo by Stephen Brake

Five weeks have been set aside in May and June 2016 for the trial of a Halifax man accused of defrauding the Sipekne’katik Band.

The jury trial for Jeffery Cecil Hayes, 60, is set to begin on May 16, 2016. Hayes is charged with theft, fraud, breach of trust and possession of stolen property.

The lawyer for Hayes appeared on his behalf at Nova Scotia Supreme Court in Halifax on Thursday.

Hayes was the Director of Finance for the Sipekne’katik Band when the offences are alleged to have occurred from July 2009 and December 2010. He was charged in 2013 with fraud over $5,000, theft over $5,000, breach of trust and four counts of possession of stolen property.

In July, Hayes was ordered to stand trial following a two-day preliminary inquiry at Halifax Provincial Court.


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About Maureen Googoo 270 Articles
Maureen Googoo is an award-winning journalist from Indian Brook First Nation (Sipekne'katik) in Nova Scotia. She has worked in news more than 30 years for media outlets such as CBC Radio, the Chronicle-Herald and the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network. Maureen has an arts degree in political science from Saint Mary's University in Halifax, a journalism degree from Ryerson University in Toronto and a Masters degree in journalism from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in New York City.