OSHAWA, Ont. – Former OBAC accountant Tony Leckie appeared in Oshawa provincial court March 2.

Leckie, who allegedly absconded in October 2002 with funds belonging to the Owner-Operators’ Business Association of Canada (OBAC), appeared on a charge of fraud over $5,000.

The case was remanded to March 29. Leckie has yet to enter a plea.

OBAC board member, Mike Smith, says it’s too soon to tell whether any funds will be recovered, adding the association is keeping a close eye on proceedings.

“OBAC has remained positive about its mandate throughout this ordeal,” Smith told Truck News.

“Our primary concern, apart from trying to make an association operate without a sizeable portion of its budget, has been to remain focused on working to place the association on a firm footing.

“The announcement of Mr. Leckie’s arrest and subsequent prosecution goes a long way toward vindicating our position and assuring our many supporters that we are not going to be deterred from carrying on with our support and advocacy on behalf of Canadian owner/operators.”

In May 2003, Truck News obtained records indicating Leckie had cashed more than $70,000 worth of cheques in the weeks leading up to his disappearance in September 2002.

The exact amount of the missing money has been difficult to determine, as many of OBAC’s financial records also went missing at the same time.

OBAC launched at Truck World 2002 just days before Leckie and a sizeable amount of OBAC’s start-up funding went missing.

Leckie turned himself in mid-January, according to Durham Regional Police. n