A GULF Country council employee who allegedly defrauded the organisation of more than $1 million has been remanded in custody.
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Investigations by Mount Isa detectives led to the arrest of Burke Shire Council CFO Frederick Aqvilin, who was charged with 14 fraud-related offences.
Mr Aqvilin, 36, appeared in Cairns Magistrates Court on Thursday and did not enter a plea to the fraud-related charges.
Mount Isa detectives arrested and charged Mr Aqvilin in Cairns earlier this week after they were contacted by the council, based in Burketown.
“The shire made a complaint about one of their staff members about the misappropriation of funds,” Detective Acting Inspector Guy Harvey said.
“Mount Isa CIB detectives investigated and attended Cairns (on Wednesday) and charged a person with 14 fraud offences.”
It was not known how long Mr Aqvilin had been a council employee, but that it had been over a “period of time” given the substantial amount he is alleged to have defrauded, Acting Insp Harvey said.
Mr Aqvilin handed himself into police on Wednesday.
“Arrangements were made for him to attend Cairns police station and he did so with his solicitor and he was subsequently charged," Acting Insp Harvey said.
The matter is scheduled to be mentioned in court again on September 25.