Sixty-five more charges have been laid against a Surrey care aide accused of defrauding 21 elderly people, bringing the total number of charges to 77.

Surrey resident Ana Marie Lat Chamdal, 30, is expected to appear in Surrey provincial court March 1. The additional 65 charges were laid on Jan. 30, among them fraud over $5,000, being unlawfully in a dwelling house, assault, theft of credit cards and possession of a forged document. 鈥淭he new charges are in relation to 19 victims, with the majority of the alleged frauds occurring in Surrey,鈥� Surrey RCMP Cpl. Vanessa Munn said Thursday.

Chamdal was arrested on Feb. 1.

The Surrey RCMP鈥檚 Financial Crime Unit began its investigation last June after the Richmond RCMP received a report about a wallet having been stolen from a 96-year-old man鈥檚 home in that city.

鈥淐redit and debit cards from the wallet were being fraudulently used in Surrey and Delta,鈥� Munn said. On July 22, 2022, an arrest warrant was issued for Chamdal after she was charged with fraud over $5000, possession/use of a stolen credit card, two counts of using a forged document, identity theft, personation with intent to gain advantage and breach of undertaking.

She appeared before a judge on July 27, 2022 and was released on conditions she report to a bail supervisor and not possess any identification documents including credit cards, debit cards, checks, negotiable instruments, driver鈥檚 licenses, birth certificates, social insurance cards, mail, invoices or bills other than ones in her own name.

鈥淭here were additional charges laid in October in relation to another alleged victim,鈥� Munn noted, 鈥渟o the total is 21 alleged victims and the total number of charges is 77. There were initially seven charges laid in July 2022, then in October 2022 some additional charges were laid for a total of 12. On January 30, 2023, 65 additional charges were laid bringing the total number to 77.鈥�

Also among terms of Chamdal鈥檚 release from custody was to not engage in employment that required her to enter another person鈥檚 private residence; and not to work at a care aid facility or any facility or building that operates or cares for the elderly.

Also among terms of her release was to not engage in employment that required her to enter another person鈥檚 private residence; and not to work at a care aid facility or any facility or building that operates or cares for the elderly.

鈥淚t is disheartening to see an elderly person taken advantage of, especially by a person entrusted with providing care for them,鈥� Munn said at the time. 鈥淭his also serves as a reminder that is it important to monitor elderly family member鈥檚 finances to ensure that they are not being exploited.鈥�

She is believed to have worked as a care aide in Richmond, Delta, White Rock and Surrey, Munn added.

tom.zytaruk@surreynowleader.com
Like us on Follow us on   and follow Tom on