Charges filed against former Low employee

The Quebec crown prosecution office filed charges of fraud and theft against a former Low employee last week.

According to Quebec Directeur aux poursuites criminelles et pénales spokesperson Audrey Roy Cloutier, Hélène Desjardins faces charges of fraud and theft. She is scheduled to appear in the Gatineau courthouse during a hearing on Nov. 10.

A former Low employee was charged with fraud and theft by Quebec crown prosecutors. Low Down file photo

Cloutier said that she couldn’t comment further on the charges because it’s an ongoing court case.

The Sûreté du Québec launched this investigation in fall 2020. At that time, a former Low councillor told The Low Down that municipal money was missing, but couldn’t say how much.

SQ Sgt. Marc Tessier confirmed that Desjardins had been arrested when the investigation launched last year, but couldn’t give more details because it’s an ongoing court case.

According to municipal documents, Desjardins’ job title in 2019 was assistant secretary-treasurer. She is no longer employed with the municipality.

When reached for comment, Low director general Joanne Owens and Mayor Carole Robert said they couldn’t speak to the press on the subject. Owens added that the municipality has and will continue to cooperate with the investigation.