Fired Nanaimo Hospice executive director jailed for ripping off non-profit
NANAIMO — The former disgraced executive director of the Nanaimo Community Hospice Society will spend four months in jail for defrauding the non-profit.
Susan Maureen Steen, 71, was also given two years probation and ordered to pay back $17,000 to the Society. Though she pleaded guilty to stealing $6,000, the repayment amount was larger due to the costs of financial audits and legal fees incurred by the Society due to her actions.
Crown prosecutor Caroline Narroway told NanaimoNewsNOW the sentence sends a strong message.
“It just shows the seriousness the courts take in matters such as this,” Narroway said. “Forcing somebody to go to jail right off the bat, that’s pretty significant…This is a person without a criminal record.”