David Wittig, Westar Energy’s top executive, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Topeka on fraud charges involving his own personal affairs.

Wittig, who serves as Westar’s chairman, president and chief executive officer, has been charged with four counts of submitting false entries, books reports or statements to a federally insured bank, one count of conspiracy, one count of misapplying money from a federally insured bank; one count of money laundering; and one count of forfeiture, according to U.S. Attorney Eric Melgren.

Also named in the indictment on the same charges was Clinton Odell Weidner II, the former president of the Capital City Bank in Topeka.

Westar put out a statement Thursday saying that Wittig has requested the company’s board of directors to place him on administrative leave so that he can devote his time and energy to his personal defense.

The Westar board agreed to place Witig on administrative leave without pay and to appoint an acting president and chief executive officer “promptly.”

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