A city electrical contractor faces fraud and theft charges

A Regina contractor is facing fraud and theft charges, accused of overbilling and improper invoicing.

According to information from the Regina Police Service, 39-yearold Adrian Deck Bechard was arrested and charged Wednesday as a result of a lengthy investigation into a complaint from July 2017.

Police said the alleged fraudulent activity took place between February 2013 and August 2017 in Regina, and involved complaints of over-billing and improper invoicing — approximately $24,000 worth — by an electrician company.

Police said there was enough evidence to lay criminal charges on some of the allegations brought forward by the complainant.

While police did not release the identity of the complainant, the Regina Qu’appelle Health Region launched a lawsuit in mid-2017, alleging improper invoicing by Bechard, said to have been the sole director and president of AB Electric Corp. The lawsuit pertained to work done at Pioneer Village.

An RQHR staff member raised concerns in March 2017, resulting in an intensive investigation by the health region.

The region reported it filed a complaint with the police in July of that year, the same month it launched the lawsuit.

According to the claim, AB Electric Corp. provided electrical contracting services at Pioneer Village between January 2011 and early 2017.

The claim, which contains allegations not proven in court, states AB Electric issued approximately 1,600 invoices for its work at Pioneer Village.

At the time, the health region estimated its loss at approximately $200,000.

According to the region’s claim, irregularities included multiple invoices for the same work, issuing invoices for work not done and billing excessive hours, among other allegations.

The region said there was no evidence suggesting issues with safety or with the quality of the work done.

Bechard subsequently filed a statement of defence denying the region’s allegations and further claiming the region breached the contract by not paying for services he provided between August 2016 and February 2017.

Bechard has been released by the police, and is to make his first court appearance on Jan. 9.