OSHAWA, Ont. – Former OBAC accountant Tony Leckie pleaded guilty before the Oshawa provincial court in July to a charge of fraud over $5,000. Leckie allegedly absconded with funds belonging to OBAC (Owner-Operators Business Association of Canada) in the fall of 2002. He turned himself in to Durham Police in January.

Leckie, who is being represented by Oshawa lawyer Alex Sosna, will next appear in court Oct. 18 for trial and sentencing.

Leckie was hired by OBAC to manage the fledgling association’s finances in the summer of 2002. In September of that year, Leckie disappeared, along with a substantial amount of money and many of the association’s financial records.

At the time of Leckie’s disappearance, OBAC officials estimated up to $80,000 in funds was missing, however, that number was hard to substantiate since many of OBAC’s financial records were also missing. In June 2003, Truck News reported that at least 17 cheques had been made out to Leckie, totaling more than $70,000 in the weeks leading up to his disappearance.