From the Worldwide Faith News archives www.wfn.org
Synod of South Atlantic Uncovers Embezzlement
From
PCUSA NEWS <pcusa.news@ecunet.org>
Date
09 Jul 1998 00:37:26
Reply-To: wfn-news list <wfn-news@wfn.org>
8-July-1998
98228
Synod of South Atlantic Uncovers Embezzlement
by Jerry L. Van Marter
LOUISVILLE, Ky.-The Jacksonville, Fla.-based Synod of South Atlantic has
uncovered an embezzlement scheme involving its longtime bookkeeper, Adelita
Magpusao. She has been charged by Jacksonville prosecutors with embezzling
at least $81,000.
According to synod executive the Rev. John Bartholomew, the
embezzlement was discovered in mid-June, while the recent General Assembly,
was in session by his administrative assistant, Jackie Davis. She became
suspicious, Bartholomew told the Presbyterian News Service in a July 8
interview, when an uncashed check was returned to the synod by an
unfamiliar vendor. The check had Davis' forged signature on it.
The check turned out to be a payment on a credit card held by Magpusao,
who has been the synod's bookkeeper for 10 years. Due to recent
downsizing, her position was reduced from full to part time in January of
this year.
Subsequent examinations by synod officials and a forensic auditing firm
have turned up a number of other forged checks on which Magpusao apparently
used signature stamps from the synod office.
"The irony is that two weeks before we discovered the problem we
received a clean 1997 audit," Bartholomew said.
He said the embezzled money appears to have been almost exclusively
"pass through" funds - donations to specific projects that Magpusao
diverted for her personal use. "Because these were special gifts, the
recipients didn't know the money was coming so they didn't miss it,"
Bartholomew said, explaining why it took some time to discover the
embezzlement.
Once the embezzlement was uncovered, Bartholomew added, "we took
decisive steps to clean up the mess." The synod is working with its
insurer, the auditors and its bank to recover the stolen money. The bank
shares some responsibility, he said, "because the rubber-stamped signatures
on the checks were blatantly fraudulent."
Bartholomew praised donors, recipients and the synod's presbyteries
"for their gracious response to all this." He said no harsh criticism has
been leveled and that the presbyteries have been very cooperative "even
though, as the treasury receiving sites, this will mean some extra work for
them."
As the case moves through the court system, Bartholomew said, the synod
has asked the forensic auditors to determine exactly how much money
Magpusao stole, whose money it was and where it should go, and to recommend
additional financial safeguards to ensure such an embezzlement cannot
happen again.
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