A former water operator for the city of Port Coquitlam will see his court case returned in the new year.
Harold Lewis is charged with one count of stealing under $5,000 for allegedly taking copper pipes from the municipality while he was an employee and selling them for personal gain.
Lewis was due to make his first appearance at PoCo provincial court today (Monday); however, a legal agent appeared on his behalf and asked for the file to be put over until Jan. 14.
A 56-year-old PoCo resident, Lewis was one of seven workers in the public works division to be dismissed in connection with theft of copper pipes, over a 10-year period.
The estimated loss to the city was at least $75,000 and the civic workers’ length of service ranged from one-and-a-half years to 21 years.
The firings are being disputed by CUPE Local 498.
