The former CEO of Baffin Fisheries has pleaded not guilty to defrauding the company of more than half a million dollars.

52-year-old Garth Reid was charged with fraud and breach of trust after Baffin Fisheries won a civil lawsuit against him in 2019.

Discrepancies first came to light in the fall of 2017, followed by Reid’s firing and the lawsuit.

A Supreme Court judge ruled that he used at least $550,000 of company cash to build himself a mansion and guest house on family land in Winterton, Trinity Bay.

Reid was ordered to pay back the money, which had been earmarked for a new Baffin Fisheries office at Pond Inlet, in Nunavut.

He also still owes thousands to both Revenue Canada and the Quebec construction company that built the new house for him.

Five days have been set aside for the trial in late May.