NDP urges probe into UCP candidate’s alleged fraud

Alberta’s governing NDP on Thursday urged Calgary police to consider an investigation into an allegation a UCP candidate fraudulently used a credit card for political purposes.

In a letter sent to interim Chief Steve Barlow and the media, CalgaryShaw NDP MLA Graham Sucha urges the force to “determine if a criminal investigation is warranted” into claims UCP CalgaryEast candidate Peter Singh used at least one local resident’s credit card to advance his nomination campaign.

“Various Calgary media outlets have reported on allegations that Mr. Singh and/or his associates assisting with his party nomination have inappropriately used at least one person’s credit card to purchase a membership in the UCP without their consent,” it reads.

The letter comes two weeks after four of the losing candidates in the Nov. 3 nomination vote wrote to the UCP leadership claiming Singh had improperly used gifts and favours as well as bribery and fraud to sway votes.

Some of its signatories said they ’d complained to party officials about Singh’s conduct months before.

A week ago, when their letter was leaked to Postmedia, UCP Leader Jason Kenney said the party would conduct an internal investigation.

He also said such misconduct results from well-attended, hotly contested nomination contests.

On Thursday, a Calgary police spokeswoman said they weren’t investigating the allegations because no victim has come forward.

“It needs to be a victim who fills out a report, it can’t be a third party,” said the spokeswoman.

UCP officials didn’t return a request for a response to the NDP letter to Calgary police and for an update on the party ’s investigation.