[size=14pt]Clerk stole $307,000 from STARS[/size]
Daryl Slade, Calgary Herald
Published: Thursday, July 08, 2010


The former accounts payable clerk with STARS air ambulance is facing possible jail time after pleading guilty to stealing $307,000 from her employer.
Olaronke Fakunle, 40, also admitted to embezzling $54,000 from Rosen Canada Pipelines Inspectors, where she worked after she resigned from STARS in October 2008. Her case was adjourned on Wednesday for sentencing arguments on Sept. 13.


Fakunle was authorized to write pre-signed cheques intended to pay bills while at STARS, but made them payable to herself instead, according to court documents.

http://www2.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/city/story.html?id=abf59ba6-4811-47e8-8406-97cedd335ce0

"We have full confidence in our internal controls identifying a problem," said Dr. Greg Powell, president and CEO of STARS. "We feel confident our money is well protected and it will not happen again."

He said all of the missing money has been recovered.
Fakunle had been promoted to senior accountant before resigning from STARS. She was soon hired by the pipeline company, where she committed similar frauds.
Seventy-five per cent of air ambulance funds are raised through donations from individuals, service groups, businesses and corporations.
The other 25 per cent comes from Alberta Health Services.
STARS, which flew 1,368 medical missions last year, has been in existence since 1985.
Fakunle, from Nigeria, was the subject of a Herald article in August 2007 about immigrants adjusting to life in Canada while, at the same time, maintaining a strong bond to their homeland.


Fakunle said the high cost of air travel was a limiting factor in keeping family contact.
dslade@theherald.canwest. com


© Calgary Herald 2010

another one bites the dust!