Demorest fires accountant in light of fraud investigation

DEMOREST - Just hours after announcing an internal investigation into more than $275,000 in missing city funds, the city of Demorest has fired an accountant who had been providing bookkeeping services to the city.<br /> <br /> In an email statement, Mayor Rick Austin said the termination of the contract employee was immediate, based on learning that the accounting services provided to Demorest did not meet accepted standards and delayed the city's discovery of the fraud. The fraudulent activity spanned a period of almost two years.<br /> <br /> Austin identified the terminated accountant, who worked under contract with the city, as Altea Muller of Muller Partners CPA of Duluth.<br /> <br /> "We have, and will, take actions to move our city forward," Austin said.