Posted on 12/13/2012, 9:47 am, by mySteinbach

A Canada Post employee is facing numerous fraud related charges in connection with an investigation that began over 2 years ago.

In May of 2010, Leaf Rapids RCMP Detachment was contacted by Employment and Income Assistance and Canada Post over suspicious activity at the Canada Post Office in Leaf Rapids. The allegations related to the handling of individuals Income Security cards and cheques by a Canada Post employee.

An investigation began into the allegations and evidence was gathered as the investigation moved forward. The results of the investigation were forwarded to Public Prosecutions for consultation and in November, 2012, they recommended charges.

On December 5, 2012, RCMP laid 28 charges in connection with this investigation against 56-year-old Geraldine Cockerill of Leaf Rapids, who was the Post Mistress at the time of the offences in 2010. She was charged with 4 counts of fraud under $5,000, 8 counts of uttering a forged document, 8 counts of forgery and 8 counts of theft from mail.

The evidence gathered suggests a number of fraudulent transactions occurred between December 2009 and April 2010 including forged signatures on Employment and Income Assistance cards and cheques. On December 11, 2012 she was served a summons to appear in Leaf Rapids Court on March 20, 2013.