2 women face charges for K.H.M.H. theft
Last September the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital discovered that over two hundred and eighteen thousand dollars had been stolen over a one-month period. Today, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions brought charges against two women they believe were directly involved in the crime. Sources tell News 5 that Cheryl Staines and Indira Mak were identified as the persons who went to the Bank of Nova Scotia and cashed the forged cheques in the name of two bogus companies. News 5 understands that both women have been prime suspects since the start of the police investigation. This evening we spoke with Crown Counsel and Press Liaison Officer in the D.P.P.’s office, Michael Peyrefitte, about why it took eleven months to bring charges in the case.
Michael Peyrefitte, Press Liaison Officer, D.P.P.
“We had to be sure what we were gonna charge them for first of all and we had to make sure also that the evidence was there. Before we charge people we have to feel confident that we are going to succeed in court with the charge. So it’s not a process that takes just a week or two, it’s something that takes time, we need to gather evidence, we need to make sure of what we’re doing before we make the charge, because we don’t want to make any mistakes.”
Jacqueline Woods
“It’s my understanding that they had alleged that a man, I think from the Mediterranean actually hired them to do the job. Do you know if this is the case and if any charges will be brought against him?”
Michael Peyrefitte
“Well there is no evidence to that fact. In court it’s not what you believe, or sometimes not even what you know, but what you can prove. Certainly we are aware of a name and this mysterious man that exists. But as far as we know, looking at the evidence, only Miss Mak and Miss Staine should be charged based on the evidence that we have. Naturally, if the evidence reveals also that there is somebody else involved, and the limitation period has not passed, we are going to charge that other person. But for right now, we can only be sure of Miss Mak and Miss Staine in terms of we are confident that we can charge them for the crimes that we have charged them for.”
Jacqueline Woods
“And they are?”
Michael Peyrefitte
“And that are acting upon a forged document. Alleged in the case there were some cheques that were signed, so forged documents. And under the law the cheques are considered to be forged documents. And at the same time, making false statements concerning the business that they were involved with under the business act.”
K.H.M.H. officials informed News 5 that both Staines and Mak were never employed at the hospital, but they believe that at least one of them knew the institution’s operating systems well enough to have pulled off the job. In an ironic twist, one of the women could not appear in court today because she recently delivered a baby and is still convalescing at the K.H.M.H.
