Tuesday, January 09, 2007

$6.4 MILLION FRAUD AT ANDREW PELLER

Canadian wine group Andrew Peller (formerly Andres Wines) has charged a former accountant with embezzling $6.3 million of the company’s money into her own accounts over 11 years.

"There is some sophistication to it and the way it was done without notice definitely involved some forethought," Niagara police Acting Sgt. Glen Futers told the Toronto Sun.

Christine Marie Papakyriakou, 50, turned herself in last week and was charged with fraud over $5,000, money laundering and possession of the proceeds from the crime.

She will appear in court on Feb. 16.

Papakyriakou left the company last year, but the company didn’t realize anything was missing until an internal audit was conducted in 2006.

According to Just-Drinks, the company will file a lawsuit to recover part of the stolen money but is not expecting a full recovery.