The treasurer of an Edmonton children’s non-profit society is facing charges of defrauding the group more than $206,000.
An investigation uncovered multiple fraudulent transactions withdrawn from the Children’s Heart Society bank accounts between 2013 and 2016.
Edmonton police and the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission worked together on the six-month investigation.
Asa Wedman, 40, is charged with two counts of theft over $5,000 and two counts of fraud over $5,000. Wedman was the treasurer of the Children’s Heart Society until the fall of 2016, when the investigation began.
The Children’s Heart Society filed a lawsuit against Wedman and two banks in January.
The statement of claim alleges Wedman “fraudulently, without authorization, and for his own benefit withdrew funds from the CHS accounts in the sum of at least $213,457.32. Specifically, Wedman paid to himself approximately $45,519.04 from the casino account, $218,198.84 from the general account and $39,739.64 from the bingo account.”
The claim states, as treasurer, Wedman was in a position of trust.
HSBC Canada and Royal Bank of Canada are also named as defendants, the non-profit alleging that they acted negligently and didn’t follow protocol. HSBC and RBC have denied all allegations against them.
Read more at CTV News
