A Whale Cove council member facing accusations of sexual assault and manslaughter was granted bail on Wednesday. Michael Angutetuar was taken into custody following an incident that allegedly led to the death of a young woman on the morning of March 25. A court order prohibits the disclosure of the woman’s identity and details of the bail hearing. Angutetuar was elected to the Whale Cove council in October 2023 for a four-year term. Despite the legal charges, he intends to retain his council position unless unforeseen circumstances arise, as mentioned by his lawyer, Alan Regel, in an email following the bail hearing.
The community is considering options to remove Angutetuar from his council duties. Brian Fleming, the senior administrative officer of the hamlet, indicated that a letter will be sent to inform Angutetuar of his removal from the council. Fleming mentioned that Angutetuar owes the hamlet around $1,200 for tires purchased from the municipality but never paid for. Additionally, while in custody in Iqaluit, Angutetuar missed over three consecutive council meetings, which, according to Fleming, gives the council grounds for dismissal.
Fleming emphasized the importance of impartiality in handling the allegations against Angutetuar but noted that there is discontent among council members regarding the situation. Angutetuar will be confined to house arrest until his trial, with the next court appearance scheduled for September 23 in Whale Cove.
