Fraudster at the MRC Pontiac identity unveiled
Fraudster at the MRC Pontiac identity unveiled
CHIP 101.9 reported yesterday that the corporation of the MRC Pontiac has been the victim of fraud. The identity of the accused is Colette Morrissette age 52 of Fort-Coulonge who was charged with stealing over $ 170,000 via fraudulent methods.
According to a press release from the MRC Pontiac, last August, an employee of the accounting department of the MRC Pontiac noticed irregularities in a bank account that was under the responsibility of Colette Morrissette who worked for RPGL Lawyers.
At the request of the director general of the MRC, Bernard Roy, the heads of RPGL looked into the irregularities and discovered that fraud had been committed by a former employee of the law firm, who allegedly stole more than $ 170,000 from municipal bylaw payments issued on the territory of the MRC Pontiac since January 2012.
This press release states that RPGL took the appropriate disciplinary action and filed a complaint with the Sûreté du Québec. In addition, RPGL reimbursed all amounts diverted from the MRC. The MRC adds that it considers this is an isolated incident.
MRC Management is reviewing the procedures to prevent any future risk of misappropriation.
“This is a reminder that we must be more vigilant. This is the hard lesson we got from RPGL, with whom we have had a trusting relationship for 11 years. ”
-The director general of the MRC, Bernard Roy.
The MRC Pontiac has a contractual agreement with the law firm RPGL Avocats since 2006 for the collection and management of the transfer of funds collected from fines for municipal by-laws offences.
In a related press release, by the Sûreté du Québec’s Major Crimes Investigation Service confirmed that it had arrested the alleged perpetrator of this crime last Wednesday. Colette Morrisette, 52, of Fort-Coulonge appeared at the Gatineau Courthouse. She faces charges of fraud, forgery, use of forged documents and identity fraud. The investigation shows that she defrauded the MRC Pontiac between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2017 via various methods.
