University accounting clerk charged with stealing more than $500,000
By Tim Kalinowski on April 29, 2021.
LETHBRIDGE HERALDtkalinowski@lethbridgeherald.com A former accounting clerk with the University of Lethbridge has been charged with theft and fraud by the Lethbridge Police Service’s Economic Crimes Unit (ECU) after allegedly stealing over $500,000 during a period of a year from the institution.The LPS confirmed in a release on Wednesday it had charged Donna Court, 57, with fraud over $5,000, theft over $5,000 and possession of stolen property over $5,000.
According to police, the investigation began in 2018 when the woman’s employer, the University of Lethbridge, contacted police after detecting a potential fraud through their internal processes.
Investigators with the ECU determined that the employee had used her position at the university to falsify records and conceal the theft of more than $500,000.
The University of Lethbridge commented on the charges Wednesday afternoon.
“In March 2018, University of Lethbridge employees discovered a fraud perpetrated by a fellow employee,” the statement reads. “This week, Lethbridge Police Service (LPS) arrested and charged this individual with multiple offences. This employee, with more than 30 years of experience at the University, abused her detailed knowledge of the financial systems of the U of L and falsified records to conceal the estimated theft of $580,000.”
Court was immediately terminated from her employment, the university confirms, when the alleged fraud and theft was discovered.
“University Senior Administration, Internal Audit, the University of Lethbridge Board of Governors, the Office of the Auditor General of the Province of Alberta, Lethbridge Police Service, and the Government of Alberta were immediately notified of the situation,” the statement goes on to say. “A team of external forensic investigators was subsequently engaged to conduct a thorough investigation. The final report of the investigators was received by the Audit Committee of the Board of Governors, and the U of L shared that report, along with detailed information pertaining to the theft, with Lethbridge Police Services in support of their criminal investigation.”
The University of Lethbridge carries insurance to offset the risks of such internal thefts and frauds being committed, the statement confirms, and has since recovered the vast majority of the missing funds from its insurer.
“While the criminal proceedings are underway, the U of L is unable to provide any additional comment on this matter,” the statement concludes. Follow @@TimKalHerald on Twitter 4
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