Police say TNRD officials suspect criminality in regional district's financial irregularities

Photo: Castanet Staff

The TNRD building on Victoria Street in downtown Kamloops.

Thompson-Nicola Regional District representatives believe criminality may have been at play in the district’s finances, police say.

On Friday, the TNRD issued a statement saying it had turned over information to Mounties regarding potential “financial irregularities.” On Monday, the Kamloops RCMP detachment provided a response to an inquiry from Castanet Kamloops.

“Last week, the Kamloops RCMP detachment was contacted by members representing the interest of the Thompson-Nicola Regional District, who presented information they believed may be associated to criminality,” RCMP Const. Crystal Evelyn said.

“Police are assessing that information as part of their investigation. No further information will be released by the Kamloops RCMP until a conclusion is determined.”

In February, a series of reports in Kamloops This Week shone a light on the spending habits of former TNRD CAO Sukh Gill, who was shuffled out of his role atop the regional district in early 2020. According to the reporting, Gill spent more than $500,000 in taxpayer money on expenses over the course of five years, including many big-ticket items at luxury hotels and restaurants.

The TNRD statement did not specifically say whether the information handed over to police has to do with Gill’s alleged spending.

Also last week, TNRD directors voted to do away with taxpayer-funded booze at official events — a move made in response to KTW’s reporting on Gill’s spending.