News
the other press

 

November 20, 2002

 

Support Worker for the Canadian Mental Health
Association, expresses housing and social concerns
for many of her clients, some of them requiring
extensive aid in basic functions concerning hygiene,
housekeeping and shopping.

“Everybody needs to feel a part of something,”
Wilkman explains, observing that “It’s almost
always the social programs that are the first to go.”

Now, services to aid people with these basic func-

housing opportunities.

“In some cases, they are living in unsanitary con-
ditions, increasing the likelihood of eviction,”
Wilkman comments. She continues, stating that
“slowly the system is being stripped; it’s not being
done in a humane way.” She explains that if a client
can't keep the area around them clean, the landlord
gets angry because they fear the tenant is affecting
the area around them. And if they are evicted, a jan-

 
  

Lessons

Even if you have two left

feet you can learn
tions have been cut and may affect certain clients’ _ itorial service is no longer available to come in and Thats pean
clean the apartment, which means the client loses
the security deposit. If this occurs more than twice, © Ages 18-75
then the client will not be able to obtain another ese ptt

No partner required
security deposit from the Ministry. Instead, it will

be deducted from their cheque. With an income ©

 

food.”

 

that will not permit many deductions, some of the hoy: 21, 2002
: . . Thursdays 7 ~ 8 PM
mentally ill face grave housing crises. 4 sessions $40

a“ . . . .

At least in an institution they were clean and
fed,” Wilkman concludes. “I can’t stand to see
someone sitting alone in a dark apartment, with no

1130 Austin Ave, Coquitlam

{second floor, above Yuen’s }

REGISTER NOW!
604 722-9545
www.confidance.com

 

 

 

 

 

Arrest Warrant Out for Former UVic SUB

Business Manager

Charged with fraud after $300,000
shortfall revealed in audit

John Thompson
The Martlet

VICTORIA (CUP)—Saanich police have issued a warrant for the arrest of
Vivek Sharma, the former business manager of the Student Union Building at
the University of Victoria.

Sharma has been charged with fraud, theft, and causing a person to use a
forged document by the local police after an internal audit uncovered a
$300,000 shortfall in the budget.

“What Vivek presented to the finance committee bore no relation to the actu-
al statements,” said Marne Jensen, a former executive of the University of
Victoria Student Society. “We allege that he took money that was the Society’s.
We allege he used fraud in order to do that.”

Until police pressed charges, the Students’ Society was unable to comment on
their suspicions of criminal wrongdoing. Publicly, they continue to be tight-
lipped for fear of damaging an anticipated court case. But beneath the surface,
suspicion and anger have been directed at Sharma for some time.

Sharma, 28, began working for the student union as manager of the campus
pub, Felicita’s, in 1999. From there he was promoted to the role of operations
manager, responsible for overseeing the different businesses inside the SUB,
until he resigned in the late summer of 2001. Sharma told his employers that a
Belgian firm made him an offer he couldn't pass up, and he had to leave as soon
as he could. He left in early October.

Weeks later, a routine audit revealed the shortfall.

The Students’ Society alleges there were major discrepancies between the
financial figures reported by Sharma to the finance committee, and the num-
bers used by individual businesses.

During the SUB employees’ Christmas party last year, Jonas Gifford, the
Student Society's director of finance, smashed a pifiata made in Sharma's like-
ness. Today, the papier-maché replica peers from an upper shelf in Gifford’s
office.

 

O

“It was made by our staff,” Gifford explained, without commenting further. “We've had
our suspicions, but there’s only so much we can publicly comment on,” he added.

As for the whereabouts of Sharma, speculations over the past year have ranged from Europe
to the Canadian prairies. “He claimed to have gone to Europe,” Gifford said. “We have no
proof.”

“He claimed to have roots in Halifax, roots in India, roots in Montreal. What the legiti-
macy of those are, I don’t know.”

So far the Students’ Society has collected some insurance money for employee dishonesty,
for which they're insured for up to $50,000. Gifford wouldn't comment on the amount col-
lected, because the information is tied to the criminal investigation.

If Sharma is convicted of criminal charges, the Students’ Society could plausibly file a civil
suit against him. But at this point, Gifford said, it would be premature to comment.

“It’s too early to tell,” he said. “We really need to see some more progress on the criminal

»

case.

page >©