RCMP investigating alleged theft from Chilliwack MLA's constituency office

Another B.C MLA is alleging his office has had money stolen by a constituency assistant.

ChilliwackLiberal MLA John Martin says he was alerted to money from his constituency account possibly being inappropriately used.

He says after confronting his employee, the individual admitted he had taken the money.

"I have contactedtheclerks office and the ChilliwackRCMPand we are providing allinformationavailable," said an emotional Martin, who fought back tears when speaking to the media on Thursday.

Martin believes tens of thousands of dollars were taken, and says the employee has now been fired.

"I am profoundly disappointed with what has happened, because I believe we are profoundly responsible for handling taxpayer moneys."

In October, Marni Offman, a former assistant for NDP MLA Rob Fleming, pleaded guilty to two counts of theft over $5,000.

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Since then, the government has changed protocols in tracking MLA money, with more oversight from the legislature part of how Martin was notified in this case.