A caregiver in Surrey, British Columbia, faces dozens of criminal charges for allegedly defrauding elderly victims, according to the RCMP.
A statement Thursday said 30-year-old Ana Marie Lat Chamdal was indicted with 65 new charges, adding to the six sentenced against her last year, bringing the total to 71.
Mounties said the new charges include more than $5,000 of fraud, assault, stolen credit cards and possession of counterfeit documents.
“The new charges concern 19 victims, with the majority of the alleged fraud occurring in Surrey,” the statement said.
A caregiver is also known as a healthcare assistant (HCA). They provide personal care in a variety of healthcare settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, and communities.
In BC, HCAs are not regulated or controlled by a regulatory agency like doctors, nurses and other health care professionals.
Survey started last summer
Prosecutors swore the first six indictments against Chamdal last July.
An investigation was launched after Richmond police received a report that a wallet was stolen from the home of a 96-year-old man in the city in June, according to an RCMP statement that month.
Credit and debit cards from his wallet were fraudulently used in Surrey and nearby Delta.
Financial crime investigators have identified Chamdal as a suspect. She was hired to take care of an old man, but she allegedly stole his wallet and used his cards instead.
Chamdal was released on bail last summer but was arrested again on Wednesday on new charges.
She remains in custody until her next court appearance on Thursday afternoon.
