A SALEYARDS contractor accused of pocketing $35,000 in an elaborate fraud will fight the charges at a hearing later this year.
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Cameron John Jones is charged with five counts of fraud, accused of incorrectly invoicing tens of thousands of head of cattle in the Gunnedah area.
Jones has pleaded not guilty to all charges of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception.
In Gunnedah Local Court, magistrate George Breton granted access to five sets of financial records, subpoenaed in the case.
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The court heard eight witnesses will be called to give evidence at the hearing, which is scheduled to be heard in the same court in December.
The hearing is expected to span half-a-day.
Jones was first charged in mid-January after an investigation by detectives from the Oxley rural crime unit.
Investigators were alerted to allegations of fraud spanning several years at the Gunnedah saleyards.
It's the police case against Jones that he incorrectly invoiced the processing of 59,000 head of cattle and took $35,000 more than he was entitled too.
The 37-year-old Curlewis man worked as a contractor at the saleyards over a five year period, police claim.
During this time, police allege Jones was responsible for the receiving of cattle consigned to the Gunnedah saleyards and placing into pens for sale.
The accused was required to take delivery of sold cattle once they were weighed and deliver them into buyers' holding yards for pickup and delivery.
A cattle paint branded was added for identification at abattoirs or feedlots.
Gunnedah Stock and Station Agents Association was billed for the contractor's delivery and branding costs each week at an agreed cost per head, police claim.
Following investigations by rural crime detectives, Jones was charged with the fraud offences.