Description: A former Quebec lieutenant governor will remain in jail until at least Tuesday after being sentenced to 18 months in jail for fraud and breach of trust. Lise Thibault’s problems started with a 2007 report by federal and provincial auditors general that pointed out questionable expense claims of over $700,000. Thibault’s lawyer is arguing that she should be released to serve her time in the community because of her poor health.
Source: Globeandmail.com
Date: October 1, 2015
Discussion Points:
1) If you were the accountant responsible for reviewing the expense claims of an important public official like this, what type of financial controls could you put in place to prevent or detect improper activity?
2) Are you familiar with the concept of the fraud triangle? How might the triangle be applied to this case?
3) Canada has seen a number of cases of expense scandal of high public officials. What do you think has lead to this series of failures?
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