Woman charged again after defrauding 2nd Calgary company of more than $500K

A woman charged two years ago with defrauding a Calgary oil and gas company she worked for out of more than $500,000 has been charged again with defrauding a separate business.

Calgary police allege the woman stole more than $575,000 over a period of four years while working as an office manager at a local orthotics and prosthetics company.

The accused worked for the company from 2016 to 2023 and was responsible for bookkeeping, administrative tasks and was the sole administrator of the company’s payroll, according to police.

Investigators believe she began stealing money in 2019 when she got more access to the company finance after one of the owner’s family members got sick.

Police allege she embezzled money by making unauthorized payments and e-transfers to herself that were disguised as advances, reimbursements and bonuses. It’s also alleged she used a company credit card for 290 unauthorized transactions and used company cheques for personal spending.

The owner of the company reported the employee to police after seeing her name in a previous police release where she was charged with embezzling money from a separate company.

Investigators determined she stole $576,963 after a forensic audit of the company’s finances from 2019 to 2023.

On Monday, police arrested 46-year-old Monika Manhas of Gold River, B.C. with fraud over $5,000 and theft over $5,000.

Manhas previously charged with defrauding oil and gas company

Manhas was previously charged with the same crimes two years ago after allegedly defrauding a Calgary oil and gas company of more than $500,000.

Police say she worked at the company between October 2013 and September 2015 on a temporary contract. She was the sole administrator of the company’s payroll system and was the only one with access to the company credit card.

Investigators allege she set herself up as a full-time, salaried employee on the company’s payroll and also used funds to pay herself $254,856. It is further alleged she used the company credit for personal spending of $29,483 and wrote company cheques to herself for $65,280.

Police say she also used more than $180,000 from the company to pay off her personal credit card.

The company started investigating after Manhas responded to a suspicious work email and sent money to a supposed financial institution in China without running it by company management.

The company reported the woman’s activity to police in January 2016 and after a lengthy investigation the then 44-year-old was arrested and charged on Feb. 16, 2023.

Manhas is expected to appear in a Calgary courtroom in March for the latest round of charges.

Anyone with additional information is being urged to contact police at 403-266-1234, or submit tips to CrimeStoppers anonymously.