The mayor of Port Moody was not present at Port Coquitlam provincial court this morning (Thursday) for the first court date on a sexual assault charge.
Special prosecutor Michael Klein asked Judge Eugene Jamieson to put over the matter against Mayor Robert Vagramov, who was not required to be in court today, until Wednesday, May 29.
Articling law student Karyn Leslie appeared for Vagramov's lawyer, Ian Donaldson, and agreed to the adjournment to review disclosure papers.
Outside the courtroom, Klein declined to comment to The Tri-City News, saying, “There will be no statement as the matter is before courts.”
Vagramov, who last month held a press conference at PoMo city hall to publicly deny the charge, is accused of committing the crime in Coquitlam between April 1 and July 10, 2015.
The accuser cannot be identified.
Under Section 271 of the Criminal Code, the offence of sexual assault carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in jail; for a summary conviction, there is a maximum prison sentence of 18 months.
Vagramov has taken a paid leave of absence from his duties at city hall and as chair of the Port Moody Police Board. He was elected last October as the youngest person ever to win Port Moody's top job, defeating incumbent Mike Clay.
Mayor Robert Vagramov at a press conference at Port Moody city hall last month.
