VERNON, B.C. — The mayor of Vernon, B.C., says he is not trying to avoid paying taxes.
Akbal Mund is charged with two counts of failure to comply with the Income Tax Act.
A lawyer appeared on his behalf when the matter went before a Vernon judge on Thursday and the case returns to court Nov. 19.
Mund, who has served as mayor of the North Okanagan city since last November, says the case involves paperwork for Mund Holdings, the company he ran when he was part-owner of a national fast food franchise.
He says he's not trying to avoid any type of tax, and he's confident a stay of proceedings will be entered by the Crown when all the paperwork is sorted out.
Mund says he will continue with his mayoral duties while the charges are before the court.