Former N.L. cabinet minister took $90,000

Former provincial Liberal cabinet minister Wally Andersenfraudulentlytook almost $90,000 worth of public money through improper expense claims,Newfoundland and Labrador's Supreme Court heard Wednesday.

At his sentencing hearing in St. John's, Andersen broke down crying in the prisoner box as his lawyer, Bern Coffey, talked about problems such as suicide that plagued Andersen'sLabrador district, Torngat Mountains.

Andersen told the court he wanted to "apologize to my family, my friends and to the public."

"Not one cent of that money went into my pocket. It went to help people, people in need.

"That's something I will carry to my grave. That money did not go into my pocket."

For the first time, court heard Wednesday that Andersen's fraud totalled $89,524, with $59,084 taken through false constituency spending claims, and $30,440 in improper discretionary claims.

Coffey painted Andersen as a modern-day Robin Hood who needed extra money to help the people of his district.

Coffey suggested a jail sentence of six to nine months would be appropriate for Andersen.

The Crown argued Andersen committed serious crimes and should receive a longer sentence.

'Respected individual'

"Mr. Andersen is clearly a respected individual in the area he represented," said lawyer Frances Knickle. "But that's what makes this so troubling. We are not talking about a crime of impulse but something that was done deliberately over many years."

The Crown suggested Andersen should receive a jail sentence of two years less a day. It's also calling for restitution ofthe moneythat was taken.

In court, some of the details of how Andersen spent his money came out.

He bought himself a $6,000 snowmobile and submitted a false receipt as a lease.

Andersen filed 69 false receipts for more than $32,000 worth of translation services that were never done.

He also filed $13,000 worth of claims for an office rental despite the fact that he was not renting any office space.

Andersen also received more than $4,000 for a housing study that was never done.

The former Liberal MHA resigned his seat after the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary charged him in 2007 with fraud, forgery and breach of trust.

Four politicians charged

Reports filed by N.L. Auditor General John Noseworthy in 2006 foundfour politicians received excess payments from their constituency allowances, which are intended to be used to pay for offices, travel, promotional items and other expenses incurred dealing with constituents.

After police began an investigation, four politicians, representing all three N.L. political parties, were charged in connection with misspending millions of public dollars.

Andersen pleaded guiltySept. 22 inthe province'sspending scandal, making him the third politician to do so. He had pleaded guilty to charges of uttering forged documents and breach of trust by a public officer.

Former Tory cabinet minister Ed Byrne was sentenced to a jail term of two years less a day in April after he admitted to forging documents and faking signatures while stealing more than $117,000 through his tax-free constituency allowances.

Former New Democrat MHA Randy Collins also pleaded guilty to two fraud charges when he appeared in court last week. He'll be sentenced in December.

Jim Walsh, a former tourism minister, is charged with fraud over $5,000, breach of trust and fraud on the government, a charge formerly known as influence peddling. He is accused of overspending his constituency allowance by nearly $160,000 over five years.

Andersen is scheduled to return to court on Friday, October 2, for sentencing.