A charge of fraud over $5,000 has been approved against a former treasurer of the Oliver Elementary School Parent Advisory Council (PAC).
The Oliver RCMP wrapped up a year-long investigation into the alleged theft of funds from the PAC. As a result, police recommended the charge against Belinda Yorke to the BC Prosecution Service.
Between June 2016, until her resignation in January of 2018, it is being alleged that Yorke used her position as treasurer to misappropriate funds from the PAC’s bank account.
In January 2018, members of the PAC executive reported the apparent theft of funds to the Oliver RCMP, who in turn began their extensive investigation.
With assistance and cooperation from the PAC and the BC Gaming Policy Enforcement Branch, RCMP forwarded their findings to the BC Prosecution Service. Yorke was then charged with fraud.
As of yet, nothing has been proven in a court of law.
UPDATE:
Jason McAllister, principal of OES, said he appreciates the work that PAC did when they discovered the financial inconsistencies in 2018, and the work that the RCMP put into the investigation.
“Obviously we were all very disappointed when we discovered this and are now trusting the court process.”
McAllister said the school has worked with the PAC to improve financial practices in order “to ensure this will not happen again.”
The Oliver Chronicle is awaiting comment from PAC president Petra Veintimilla.
