An investment dealer who disappeared for 18 months, then mysteriously turned up again in April at the Victoria Police Department in April to turn himself in, has pleaded not guilty to 2 charges of fraud.
54 year old Harold Backer was not in the courtroom, his lawyer entered the pleas for him. Backer has chosen to be tired by a provincial court judge and no jury. The proceedings will get underway in the spring with 12 days set aside for the trial.
Backer took a Coho ferry to Washington State in November 2015. During his absence an investigation was launched into Bakker's activities, resulting in 2 counts of fraud over $5-thousand.
He was registered with a firm called Investia Financial Services, and sold mutual funds. His license has since been suspended.
The Crown Prosecutor says Backer has still refused to say where he was during his disappearance. His next court date is October 17th when a trial date will be set. Backer is well known in the rowing community, and competed for Canada in 3 summer Olympics.