Trial dates set for last of three pharmacists facing fraud

By Peggy Revell on September 6, 2017.

A multi-day trial will run from March into April for one of three local pharmacists facing charges of fraud and theft over $5,000.

Defence counsel for Robert Stadnyk appeared in Medicine Hat Court Tuesday to officially set a trial date for Mar. 26-29, and April 5 and 6.

A not-guilty plea had been entered earlier on Aug. 15.

The two other pharmacists facing the same charges set trial dates down in August. The trials for Kathryn Keiser and Evan King will run from Jan. 22-30.

A specialized prosecutor for economic crime out of Calgary has been assigned to the case.

All three individuals face a charge of fraud over $5,000 and theft over $5,000, stemming from allegations they received rebates and incentive payments to the sum of $1.6 million directly through negotiating drug purchases.

All three worked at pharmacies owned by the Medicine Hat Co-op (now known as South Country Co-op), and have since had their employment terminated.

Investigation into the fraud began in December 2015 after the business contacted police.