Close X
Saturday, November 30, 2024
ADVT 
National

Ontario recovers $11M in alleged COVID fraud

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 23 Jan, 2021 01:08 AM
  • Ontario recovers $11M in alleged COVID fraud

A former senior employee with the Ontario government has repaid more than $11 million in COVID-19 benefits the province alleges he took fraudulently, his lawyer said on Friday.

The unproven civil claim named Sanjay Madan, who had a senior IT role and helped develop the computer application for applying and approving the benefit for families with children.

In a brief statement, Madan's lawyer Christopher Du Vernet confirmed his client had made the repayment.

"In fact, the province has recovered in excess of the funds it presently alleges Mr. Madan took from the Families Support Program," Du Vernet said.

"However, it is also seeking its legal costs, interest and punitive damages, so the action continues."

In its untested lawsuit filed last fall, the province alleged Madan, his wife and two adult children who all worked for the Ontario government in information technology defrauded the province of at least $11 million.

The civil claim, which also sought $2 million in punitive damages, accused them and others of illegally issuing and banking cheques under the program that aimed to defray the cost of children learning at home.

"The Madan family exploited their positions of employment with Ontario and unique access to the (program) and payment processing system," the government alleged in the claim. "The plaintiff was uniquely vulnerable to Sanjay, particularly with respect to the integrity of the...application."

The Ministry of the Attorney General did not immediately confirm the recovered money, first reported by the Toronto Star.

Du Vernet said his client "deeply regrets" his actions and was awaiting results of medical opinions on his condition.

According to the lawsuit, Madan and his family opened more than 400 accounts at the Bank of Montreal between April and May. They then deposited around 10,000 cheques made out to fictitious applicants with thousands of non-existent children under the support program.

Most deposits were made over a four-week period starting on May 25, coinciding with a rule change that allowed more than five payments to be made to an applicant. The government alleges Madan either sparked the rule change or knew about it and took advantage.

In other court filings, Madan is said to have told the government that he could explain "all of this" and that he has "helped many families."

The government had served notice it intended to seize any money the family allegedly obtained fraudulently and obtained a court order to have their bank accounts turned over to the court pending the outcome of the lawsuit.

The government also obtained a court order freezing the family's assets, which included a list of properties in Toronto.

Madan was fired in November.

MORE National ARTICLES

Diving incident claims the life of a 64-year-old man in West Vancouver

Diving incident claims the life of a 64-year-old man in West Vancouver
WVPD officers are currently assisting the Coroners Service with an investigation into the circumstances leading up to the man’s death

Diving incident claims the life of a 64-year-old man in West Vancouver

Wind, snowfall warnings issued for parts of B.C

Wind, snowfall warnings issued for parts of B.C
Winds of 70 to 90 kilometres per hour are expected for east and west Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast, starting late Tuesday morning and persisting into the evening.

Wind, snowfall warnings issued for parts of B.C

Vancouver Police takes armed man into custody after prolonged stand-off

Vancouver Police takes armed man into custody after prolonged stand-off
The second suspect, a 31-year-old man, remained in the same suite for several hours, however, police were able to negotiate a safe resolution.

Vancouver Police takes armed man into custody after prolonged stand-off

B.C. health order limits staff at industrial sites

B.C. health order limits staff at industrial sites
The Dec. 29 order by provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says rising case counts related to the projects have led to transmissions in nearby communities, while straining the capacity of local health-care systems.

B.C. health order limits staff at industrial sites

Bad IT support hurting military operations: Report

Bad IT support hurting military operations: Report
The review found numerous problems in the technical support provided to the military by Shared Services Canada, which took over management of most federal networks in August 2011.

Bad IT support hurting military operations: Report

Airlines call out 'confusion' around testing rules

Airlines call out 'confusion' around testing rules
Air Transat vice-president Christophe Hennebelle says Ottawa announced the requirement, which takes effect this Thursday, "out of the blue" without any prior consultation or notice to industry.

Airlines call out 'confusion' around testing rules