A city councillor for Richmond Hill, Ont. has been charged in connection with a fraud investigation.
According to York Regional Police, an investigation into “the fraudulent use of funds connected with a city councillor’s employment” began back in July.
Police allege the councillor hired an additional staff member and then arranged for them to give a portion of their pay to the councillor’s spouse.
“It is believed that more than $21,000 was paid to the councillor’s spouse from August 2019 to May 2020,” police said in a news release issued Tuesday afternoon.
Richmond Hill resident Karen Cilevitz, 63 has been charged with fraud over $5,000 and breach of trust by a public officer in connection with the incident. Cilevitz was first elected as a city councillor in Richmond Hill in 2014 and was re-elected for a second term in 2018.