AB - Gambler awaits fate, Stole $120,000 from Navy League cadets
By TONY BLAIS, COURT BUREAU, Edmonton Sun, Wed, December 13, 2006
To jail or not to jail?
That is the question a judge must answer in the case of a former treasurer of the Edmonton branch of the Navy League cadets who stole nearly $120,000 from the volunteer organization to fuel his gambling addiction.
Jari Antero Siik earlier pleaded guilty to theft over $5,000 and Crown prosecutor Rhonda Tibbitt yesterday urged provincial court Judge Peter Caffaro to put the thief behind bars for between 18 and 24 months.
Court heard Siik has repaid $31,000 of the $118,341 he stole and Tibbitt also asked Caffaro to issue a restitution order for the balance owing.
Defence lawyer Bob Aloneissi asked Caffaro to let Siik serve whatever sentence he is given in the community under a combination of house arrest and curfew.
A sentencing date is slated to be set on Jan. 11.
According to agreed facts, Siik was the treasurer for the local branch of the Navy League of Canada between June 2004 and November 2005, and the thefts occurred from September 2004 to when he was let go.
Siik stole the money by writing cheques, a total of 82, to himself from the Navy League account.
He repaid $31,000 by depositing the money back in the Navy League account on Sept. 9, 2005, which was before the organization discovered the thefts. Siik also wrote an additional eight fraudulent cheques after that time.
Siik’s two daughters were members of the cadet group.
The Navy League promotes and organizes training of youth through cadet movements and other youth groups.
During the time Siik was the treasurer, the gas and the phone were cut off at the Navy League facility.
Court heard Siik was previously convicted of theft in 1992 and received a 90-day jail term.
Court also heard Siik suffers from diabetes, kidney disease, osteomyelitis and depression.
In a letter of apology, Siik called his actions “inexcusable” and blamed the thefts on his addiction to VLTs.
“What started as a fun time and an occasional gambling night turned into a monstrous lifestyle,” said Siik.
“VLTs turned my life into a nightmare.”
Copyright © 2006, Canoe Inc.
