Second Man Sentenced In MNS Disputed Election

Second Man Sentenced In MNS Disputed Election

Friday, April 21, 2006 at 13:24

The second person to admit to forging ballots in the 2004 Métis Nation of Saskatchewan election has been sentenced.

Yesterday in North Battleford Court, a judge gave Vince Bugler a one-year conditional sentence plus 2 years probation.

Among other things, court heard that Bugler helped a handful of other people forge ballots in a Wilkie hotel room, which served as the community’s polling station.

Evidence laid out in court yesterday stated only one person was actually found to have voted in the Wilkie district, despite the fact 150 ballots were said to have been cast there by election officials.

Crown Prosecutor Paul Goldstein also recited wire-tap evidence collected by the RCMP in the days after the vote was held. It suggested others were aware of what was going on.

Goldstein says Bugler played part in the forgery scandal and still must be held responsible.

Goldstein also says the scandal has cost the Métis people of Saskatchewan well over $1 million in lost government funding.