August 8, 2014
OTTAWA – The Canadian Forces National Investigation Service (CFNIS), a unit within the Canadian Forces Military Police, charged a former civilian employee with offences related to fraud and theft on August 7, 2014.
Ms. Patience Sangster, a 38-year-old former civilian employee of the Non-Public Funds (NPF) at 3rd Canadian Division Support Base Edmonton, Detachment Wainwright, has been charged with:
- one count of fraud over $5,000, in accordance with section 380(1)(a) of the Criminal Code of Canada;
- one count of theft over $5,000, in accordance with section 334(a) of the Criminal Code of Canada;
- one count of falsification of books and documents, in accordance with section 397(1)(a) of the Criminal Code of Canada; and
- one count of drawing a document without authority, in accordance with section 374(a) of the Criminal Code of Canada.
The alleged offence occurred in relation to over $80,000 in non-public funds missing from various military units at 3rd Canadian Division Support Base Edmonton, Detachment Wainwright. Ms. Sangster had been a civilian employee for approximately fourteen years and worked at the NPF office at the time of the alleged offences.
This investigation began after 1 Military Police Regiment received a complaint that money had been misappropriated from various military units. The CFNIS investigation revealed sufficient evidence to support charges under the Criminal Code of Canada.
Ms. Sangster was served a summons for an initial appearance in provincial court in Wainwright, AB, scheduled for September 18, 2014.
“Fraudulent activity and misappropriation of DND funds are illegal acts and are taken seriously by the Military Police”, says LCol Brian Frei, Commanding Officer of CFNIS. “Anyone breaking the law can expect to be caught and held accountable according to the Criminal Code of Canada.”
The CFNIS is a unit within the independent Canadian Forces Military Police Group whose mandate is to investigate serious and sensitive matters in relation to Department of National Defence property, Department of National Defence employees and Canadian Armed Forces personnel serving in Canada and around the world.
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Major Yves Desbiens
Senior Public Affairs Officer
Canadian Forces Provost Marshal and Canadian Forces Military Police Group
Tel: 613-949-1098
Email: yves.desbiens2@forces.gc.ca
Media Relations
Department of National Defence
Phone: 613-996-2353
Toll-Free: 1-866-377-0811
Email: mlo-blm@forces.gc.ca
