ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - A Newfoundland bureaucrat at the centre of the province's spending scandal was found in good health early Sunday, two days after he was reported missing.
The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary says Bill Murray, the former director of financial operations at the province's legislature, was located in St. John's around 3:00 a.m. on Sunday. The 53-year-old was reported to be in good health.
The police had been looking for Murray after his family reported him missing on Friday.
Murray was suspended from his job last year amid allegations that he played a key role in approving questionable expenditures.
Newfoundland and Labrador auditor general John Noseworthy began releasing a series of reports last summer, alleging Murray signed off on $2.7 million worth of various trinkets and keepsakes, such as customized gold rings, fridge magnets and key chains.
Murray also faces a breach of trust lawsuit launched by the provincial government, though he has filed a statement of defence denying the allegations, which haven't been tested in court.
The auditor general's reports said Murray would have had to approve the bulk of the questionable expenditures, but couldn't explain where the money went or how it was spent.
The same reports also alleged five politicians from all major parties, three of whom have quit politics, filed $1.6 million in excessive constituency allowance claims over nine years.
The matter was passed onto the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary, who have charged two politicians.
Liberal member Wally Andersen was charged last month with fraud, uttering a forged document and breach of trust; and former Liberal cabinet minister Jim Walsh was charged last week with fraud, breach of trust by a public officer and influence peddling.
A review completed earlier this year by Newfoundland Chief Justice Derek Green recommended a rigorous overhaul of the legislature's spending controls.
Noseworthy is now looking into constituency allowance spending dating back to their inception in 1989. His findings are expected to be released before the provincial election, set for Oct. 9.
