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 chief financial officer Frederick Aqvilin, who has been charged with 14 fraud-related offences.
Mr Aqvilin, 36, appeared in the Cairns Magistrates Court on Thursday and did not enter a plea to the charges.
Mount Isa detectives arrested and charged Mr Aqvilin in Cairns 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 and charged a person with 14 fraud offences.”
It was not known how long Mr Aqvilin had been a council employee, but that it must have been over a period of time given the substantial amount he was alleged to have defrauded, Acting Inspector Harvey said.
Mr Aqvilin handed himself into police on Wednesday and arrangements were made for him to attend the Cairns police station with his solicitor.
The matter is scheduled to be mentioned in court again on September 25.
