A former New Brunswick judge imprisoned for his role in defrauding the Miramichi Regional Health Authority of $1 million will be released from prison this week.

Drew Stymiest, a 20-year veteran of the New Brunswick judiciary when he resigned in disgrace, will be granted day parole on Tuesday. Last spring, he and three other members of the hospital authority's board were convicted of stealing money from the organization during the mid-1990s.

Stymiest was sentenced to nearly five years in prison, and has served a little more than nine months. He qualified for what's called accelerated parole review — a process that grants day parole to a prisoner who has served one-sixth of his sentence.

The crime created outrage in Miramichi, because the fraud occurred during a time of funding cuts to hospital corporations across the province and because those convicted in the scam were trusted, high-placed members of the community.

Miramichi Mayor John McKay says some may forgive Stymiest and welcome him back, but they won't forget.

"The community hasn't recovered from this and the ramifications will be felt for years to come. There's been a great sense of betrayal in the community because these crimes were perpetrated by people given the highest level of respect in the community."

Miramichi resident Drew MacDermaid is angry the former judge will be released, but not surprised. 

"It's the system. I mean, he's higher up in the court system," he said. "Take the average guy on the street and, you know … chances are he's going to see those five years," he said.

Stymiest is eligible for full parole this October. Two other hospital executives also convicted in the fraud, Ian Jamieson and Darrell Doucet, are already out on full parole. A third, John Tucker, will be released this August.