LONDON, Ont. -- The fraud case involving the mayor of London, Ont., will return to court this fall.

Two days have been set aside for a preliminary hearing to determine whether there's enough evidence to send Mayor Joe Fontana's case to trial.

The hearing is scheduled for Oct. 28 and 29.

The dates were chosen Tuesday during a brief hearing, which Fontana did not attend.

The mayor was charged by the RCMP last November with fraud, breach of trust by a public official and uttering forged documents.

He has denied any wrongdoing and refused to step down as mayor while the charges are pending.

Police say the value of the alleged fraud is $1,700.

The London Free Press has reported that a Government of Canada cheque for that amount was given to a London club to cover a deposit for the wedding reception for Fontana's son in 2005. Fontana was a federal cabinet minister at the time.

The case was adjourned in late February to allow the defence more time for ongoing discussions with the Crown.