Bureaucrat in N.L. spending scandal reported missing

Police in Newfoundland and Labrador appealed for the public's help Saturday in their search for the man at the centre of the province's legislative spending scandal.

Bill Murray, the former provincial director of financial operations, was last seen on Friday. The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary says his family is concerned.

Murray, 53, is described as five-foot-nine and 210 pounds. He has blue eyes and is balding with grey hair on the sides.

He was last seen wearing a denim shirt, jeans and white sneakers and is believed to be driving a 2005 red Pontiac Montana.

The province's auditor general releaseda series of reports last summer, alleging Murray signed off on $2.7 million worth untendered payments to private companies for trinkets and keepsakes, such as customized gold rings, fridge magnets and key chains. One of the companies was linked to Murray.

Murraywas suspended from his job following the report.

He is not facing criminal charges but the provincial government is suing him in the province's Supreme Court for breach of trust.

Murray has said he's done nothing illegal.

So far, the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary has charged two people in connection with the spending scandal.

In late July, former Liberal MHA Wally Anderson was charged with fraud for overspending his constituency allowance by $344,000.

On Friday, former Liberal cabinet minister Jim Walsh was charged with fraud over $5,000, breach of trust and fraud against the government. Walsh allegedly overspent his allowance by nearly $300,000.