Former United Way employee accused of stealing money appears in Chatham court
The woman accused of defrauding a Chatham charity out of more than $300,000 made her first court appearance Monday.
Veronica Whittal, 48, of Tilbury is accused of stealing the money while serving as financial coordinator for the United Way of Chatham-Kent.
Irregularities in the books were first flagged by the charity’s former CEO, with police getting involved late last September.
Investigative efforts from the Chatham-Kent Police Service focused on financial records dated from October 2022 to October 2023.
As the criminal investigation got underway, the United Way announced civil action in October for the alleged misappropriation of funds — at the time, not identifying the employee suspected of wrongdoing.
It was Feb. 2 when Whittal was arrested and charged with fraud over $5,000 — a police spokesperson telling CTV News the amount in question was “in excess of $300,000.”
She was released from custody on a promise to appear in court on Feb. 26.
During that appearance, the court heard Whittal is still looking for a lawyer and intends to apply for legal aid.
She is scheduled to appear again on March 26.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada's inflation rate falls to 1.6% in September, smallest yearly increase since 2021
Statistics Canada says the annual inflation rate continued to slow in September as drivers paid lower prices for gasoline than they did last year.
Chilly weather hitting some parts of Eastern Canada while it's milder in the West
It will feel more like winter for some parts of Eastern Canada over the next few days, with single-digit highs and snow in the forecast.
Canada spat leads India newspapers, as analysts await reactions from peer countries
Canada's decision to expel New Delhi's top envoy and five other diplomats is front-page news in India, as an analyst wonders how other countries will respond.
Father of 10-year-old girl found dead in the U.K. called police from Pakistan to say he killed her
The father of a 10-year-old girl found dead in her home in England fled to Pakistan and called U.K. police from there to say he had killed her, a jury heard Monday.
Canadian court to consider when minors can be sentenced as adults
Canada's highest court is set to hear arguments on Tuesday on when a young person can be considered an adult for sentencing purposes.
BREAKING Ontario government moving to restrict new bike lanes in municipalities
Ontario Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria says the provincial government is introducing legislation that would require municipalities to receive provincial approval before removing traffic lanes to install new bike paths.
Listeria outbreak linked to plant-based milk seems to be over: PHAC
The Public Health Agency of Canada says a Listeria outbreak linked to several plant-based milks appears to be over with no additional cases reported since August.
CREA lowers housing market forecast for 2024 amid 'holding pattern' for home sales
The Canadian Real Estate Association is downgrading its housing market forecast for the remainder of the year again, saying the Bank of Canada's interest rate cuts haven't spurred the gradual improvement it previously anticipated.
Incredible new details of Shackleton's sunken Endurance ship revealed in 3D scan
A new 3D scan has revealed previously unseen details of the wreck of Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton’s HMS Endurance, which was found in 2022 – more than a century after the ship sank.