Cricket Canada CEO says charges of theft and fraud are 'completely false'
CBC
Cricket Canada CEO Salman Khan and another man have been charged with theft and fraud over $5,000 arising from their time with the Calgary and District Cricket League.
The Calgary Police Service said in a release Wednesday it believes Salman Khan Shahzad (a.k.a. Salman Khan), former president of the Calgary league, and Syed Wajahat Ali, the former treasurer, "are responsible for misappropriating money belonging to the Calgary and District Cricket League (C&DCL)."
Police said the newly appointed president of the Calgary league conducted an internal audit in 2017 after noticing "several concerns" about the league's financial records. The league then contacted police.
"The Calgary Police Service launched an investigation and discovered between January 2014 and December 2016, the former treasurer and former president of the C&DCL are believed to have misappropriated approximately $200,000 from the league," said the police statement.
"The funds were misappropriated through cheque payments to construction businesses and contractors which the former treasurer and former president, or their immediate family members, had connections to."
Police said payments were allegedly made to the businesses for repairs and upgrades to the league clubhouse and grounds. But the work was either never completed or poorly done using inferior products. Costs were also "highly inflated."
The two men, both from Milton, Ont., are due to appear in court Thursday.
Khan, in a social media post via the Alberta Cricket Association, called the allegations "completely false."
"Here's the truth. A police complaint was filed against me more than seven years ago," wrote the 46-year-old.
"A police investigator approached me and said he wanted to hear my side of the story and see the evidence I have to defend myself. He told me that if I didn't provide my side, he would proceed with charges. I told him I would visit after Ramadan, but he didn't want to wait and decided to post charges without even hearing my side or my evidence.
"Let me make this clear: They have nothing to prove against me.… I am not worried at all. I'm ready to fight just like I've been doing for the past eight years."
Khan and Ali, 45, have each been charged with one count of fraud over $5,000 and theft over $5,000. The charges have not been proven in court.
Police said its investigation was "multi-jurisdictional … involving individuals who were out-of-province and required several production orders and warrants that were executed in relation to the investigation."
The Calgary league says it has since "strengthened financial oversight, enhanced internal controls, and introduced measures to prevent similar incidents in the future."
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