Wally Andersen has not yet entered a plea on four criminal charges

Wally Andersen, who resigned his seat representing Torngat Mountains last September, has not yet entered a plea on four criminal charges, including fraud and fraud on the government.Wally Andersen represented Torngat Mountains in Newfoundland and Labrador's legislature for 11 years.
(CBC) Andersen, 56, is not required to enter a plea until a preliminary inquiry is held.In provincial court in St. John's Monday, a date was set for that inquiry. Starting Feb. 25, 2009, arguments will be made as to whether there is enough evidence to send the matter to trial. The inquiry is expected to last four weeks.
The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary laid charges against Andersen, three other politicians and a civil servant after Auditor General John Noseworthy released reports in 2006 that showed millions of dollars in questionable spending.
Andersen, a minister of Labrador and aboriginal affairs in the Roger Grimes government, had represented Torngat Mountains, a vast district covering much of northern Labrador, for 11 years.Last week, Jim Walsh, a former Liberal tourism minister, also elected trial by judge and jury. A preliminary inquiry in his case is expected to begin in November.The cases of former politicians Ed Byrne and Randy Collins, as well as Bill Murray, the suspended finance director of the legislature, are also moving through the early stages of the court process.