Senior Gwynedd councillor charged with theft

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A COUNCILLOR has been charged with stealing more than £53,000 from the Post Office he ran.

Plaid Cymru’s Dewi Eirwyn Lewis, who represents Penrhyndeudraeth on Gwynedd Council, runs Siop Dewi, a general shop in the village’s High Street and which also contains a sub-post office.

He has been ordered to appear before magistrates at Dolgellau later this month.

The charge of theft against Mr Lewis alleges he stole “cash to the value of £53,629.09 belonging to Post Office Limited” at Penrhyndeudraeth between August 31 last year and March 15 this year.




A Post Office spokesman said: “Following an audit at Penrhyndeudraeth branch and subsequent further investigations, financial irregularities were discovered at the branch.

“Post Office Ltd takes a zero tolerance policy to the rare incidents of dishonesty. However, when incidents do occur we always seek to take action against those responsible.”

He added the sub-post office remains open with a temporary postmaster appointed.

In addition to his duties as councillor for Penrhyndeudraeth Mr Lewis also holds the Economy and Community Portfolio on the Council Board.

It emerged he has relinquished those duties temporarily.

A Gwynedd Council spokeswoman said: “Due to the charge against him, Cllr Lewis has temporarily stood down from his position on the Council Board until this matter is resolved.”

She added Mr Lewis remains as a councillor.

“An individual who has been elected as a representative on a local authority remains a councillor unless he or she resigns.

“If the individual is found guilty of an offence which carries a sentence of three months or more of imprisonment – an offence of this kind disqualifies an individual from being a councillor for a period of five years,” she added.

Mr Lewis declined to comment.