A man accused in connection with an alleged multimillion-dollar fraud scheme has been granted access to a court-appointed lawyer, but he must contribute $200 per month from his own funds, a Regina court heard on Wednesday. The remainder of the legal costs will be covered by public funds.
Background of the case
Aggrey Kwesi Buaben Fynn and his wife, Stephanie Dawn Fynn, face charges of fraud over $5,000 and laundering the proceeds of crime. The couple made their first court appearance in May 2025, when they were 42 and 38 years old, respectively. They were previously listed as executives of REV Auto Group, a Regina-based company.
During an April court hearing, Crown prosecutor Jaco Erasmus revealed that the total amount of alleged fraud exceeded $8 million. At that time, Aggrey Fynn applied for court-appointed counsel, a process available to individuals who cannot afford a lawyer and have been denied services by Legal Aid Saskatchewan (LAS).
Legal proceedings and jurisdiction
Randene Zielke, representing Court Services, initially opposed Fynn's application, arguing that he failed to demonstrate a lack of funds or extraordinary circumstances. However, after further discussions and the submission of additional materials, Court Services consented to the application on the condition that Fynn make a financial contribution.
Before the matter was resolved, Judge Daryl Rayner sought submissions on whether he, as a provincial court judge at an early stage of the case, had jurisdiction to grant court-appointed counsel. Lengthy arguments from Zielke, supported by Erasmus and brief submissions from Fynn, as well as written input from the province's Constitutional Law Branch, affirmed the judge's jurisdiction.
Judge Rayner described the situation as a "unique beast, in many ways," but noted that "there is consent by all parties." He highlighted the complexity of the case, which involves upwards of 60 potential witnesses and a voluminous amount of documents. Additionally, the presence of a co-accused—Fynn's wife—makes it beneficial for him to have legal representation, including for discussions about the appropriate court level for the case.
If Fynn fails to make the required monthly payments, the court-appointed lawyer arrangement could be cancelled, the court heard.
