Kenneth Brown
of The Clarion

A former Kindersley travel agent accused of fraud has pleaded guilty to the charge. However, she will not be sentenced until after a court appearance in February.

Leslie Glauser, who operated T & T Travel in Kindersley, has pleaded guilty to a single count of fraud over $5,000. More than 200 complaints were made against the former travel agent, but a single encompassing charge was filed to make it easier for the court.

Glauser’s defence lawyer, Robert Robbenhaar of Medicine Hat, appeared in court by phone on Dec. 12 to enter a guilty plea on behalf of his client. Glauser was with Robbenhaar when the call was made.

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Provincial court Judge Robert Jackson asked Robbenhaar for an update on the case. The lawyer told the court that his intention was to enter a guilty plea on behalf of his client and then move the sentencing to a court date on Feb. 6 in Kindersley.

The judge asked Glauser to confirm her intention to enter a guilty plea, and he asked her if she was aware of the nature of the charge.

The accused confirmed the guilty plea. Jackson accepted the plea under Section 606 of the Criminal Code of Canada, which details the conditions for accepting guilty pleas.

“I don’t believe the matter will be overly lengthy,” said Robbenhaar of the sentencing hearing. He said he has worked closely with the Crown prosecutor and a joint submission is anticipated in February.

Dorinda Stahl, a senior Crown prosecutor, said her colleague Darren Howarth is assigned to the file. The only information she had to offer the court was to schedule the hearing for Feb. 6 in Kindersley at 10 a.m.

She said she does not believe any reports were required, and “I believe this was prearranged.”

Stahl said her office was more concerned with compliance on Section 606 of the Criminal Code.

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