News Department
Toronto police are investigating a major fraud allegation at York after administration turned over the results of an internal investigation.
In a public statement released September 1, York administration confirmed they are working with the “Fraud Squad” of Toronto police to investigate alleged fraudulent activities which occurred between 2007 and 2010. The university hired Navigant—a third-party forensic accounting firm—to prepare a case file, and have turned over the results to the police.
Wallace Pidgeon of York media confirmed that the amount in question is $1.2 million, and that the university is taking all possible actions to recover the funds.
Excalibur obtained court documents that revealed senior management had first commissioned an internal investigation into the misappropriation of materials from York in January 2010. The results of the investigation led to the dismissal of Michael Markicevic, former assistant vice-president of campus services and business operations department (CSBO).
Markicevic claimed he was “wrongly accused of theft,” but agreed to a settlement that would compensate his legal fees stemming from a separate harassment case. According to the court document, Gina Ciampa, Markicevic’s former executive assistant from 2006 until 2009, claimed that Markicevic “used profanity and demeaned and humiliated her” and that Markicevic had a “history of doing so.” He left York in February 2010.
Pidgeon would not comment on York’s reasons for keeping the investigation out of the public realm or the specific accusations of misappropriation, but confirmed that York’s involvement in the harassment case has since been resolved, and that any further developments were a “private matter”.
As of publication, Markicevic could not be reached for comment.
With files from Yuni Kim, Kate Hudson, and Mike Sholars
