The story of Suzan Pawlak has taken another turn. The former treasurer for the federal Liberal Party riding association for Elgin-Middlesex-London was charged with multiple counts related to the theft of over $13,000 from the riding accounts in 2006. What makes the story so strange was the odd behaviour of Liberal Party director (Ontario wing) at the time, David Pretlove. When he was informed of the discovery of the theft, he offered to reimburse the Elgin-Middlesex-London riding association using Liberal Party funds. The offer was conditional on a written assurance that the police not get involved. The offer was turned down and the police were called in. At the time of offer was made in January, Suzan Pawlak was on Pretlove's staff having moved on from the treasurer's job.

The offer was made referencing Pawlak's alleged involvement, so everyone involved knew where the evidence was pointing. When the story broke, including that David Pretlove had offered to use party funds to shield a staffer from a police investigation, Pretlove was heavily criticized, but the Liberal Party allowed him to complete his term in August.

There was no word on whether the accounts over which David Pretlove has control were themselves audited to see if there were any other unconventional offers made and paid for.

The story of David Pretlove and Suzan Pawlak makes interesting reading.

But now the story gets interesting again. A bench warrant has been issued for Suzan Pawlak:

A warrant was issued yesterday for the arrest of a former Liberal riding association treasurer who failed to appear in St. Thomas court.

Suzan Pawlak, 49, is charged with 42 counts of fraud and uttering forged documents.

Treasurer of the Elgin-Middlesex-London federal Liberal association from August 2005 to April 2006, Pawlak was charged after money disappeared from the association, prompting a police investigation that lasted six months.

Let's hope for David Pretlove's sake, his involvement in this story came to a close in August.

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