The New Brunswick Securities Commission (NBSC) has sanctioned a man for misleading one of its investigators.

The regulator announced today that a businessman, Wayne Mallett, was ordered to pay $15,000 in administrative penalties and $2,000 in costs as part of a settlement agreement, in which he agreed that he made misrepresentations to an NBSC investigator during a compelled interview. During that interview, he denied having a working relationship with a particular company that was selling investments in New Brunswick when, in fact, he was working on behalf of the company.

In addition to the monetary penalties, the order also prohibits Mallett from soliciting money for any investment-related activity until 2015. After that, he can apply to be registered as a salesperson in the investment industry. The settlement approved by a panel of the NBSC earlier this month.

“We expect that individuals who speak to our investigators be truthful in the information they provide,” said Rick Hancox, executive director of the NBSC. “Interviewing witnesses is one of the primary tools that our enforcement team has to detect and prevent improper investment practises.”