The Alberta Securities Commission (ASC) says that an arrest warrant has been issued for a Calgary man who has failed to pay monetary penalties levied by the regulator.

The ASC said Tuesday that the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta has ordered the arrest of Benhard (Ben) Andrew Anderson after declaring him to be in civil contempt. The court has ordered that Anderson be immediately arrested and brought before it to answer the contempt charge.

The contempt order follows Anderson’s failure to submit to questioning in enforcement proceedings brought to collect monetary sanctions he owes the ASC, the regulator says.

Back in 2009, an ASC panel ordered him to pay an administrative penalty of $100,000 and costs of $20,000 for his role in issuing misleading news releases about Calgary-based High Plains Energy Inc.’s oil and gas production rates where he was president and chief operating officer. (See Investment Executive, ASC sanctions Calgary man for misleading news releases, March 26, 2009.)