Surrey taxpayers will foot the bill for Mayor Doug McCallum鈥檚 defence team, the city confirmed Monday.

Special prosecutor Richard Fowler approved a charge of public mischief against McCallum on Friday, concerning 鈥渆vents that allegedly occurred鈥� on Sept. 4 in South Surrey.

McCallum is to make his first court appearance in Surrey Provincial Court on Jan. 25.

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McCallum鈥檚 public mischief charge stems from a confrontation at the South Point Save-On-Food on Sept. 4. On Sept. 5, the mayor told media he was 鈥渞un over by a vehicle鈥� after speaking to a group of residents collecting signatures for the ElectionsBC-authorized Surrey Police Vote petition. McCallum said he visited the Save-On-Foods to grocery shop.

The city said it will pay McCallum鈥檚 legal bills as part of section seven of Bylaw 15912.

The section says, in part, that 鈥渢he City will indemnify its Municipal Officials against payment of amounts required or incurred to defend an action, prosecution or claim brought against a Municipal Official in connection with the exercise or intended exercise of the person鈥檚 powers or the performance or intended performance of the person鈥檚 duties or functions including satisfaction of a judgment, award or penalty imposed in relation to the forgoing.鈥�

edit@surreynowleader.com
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