4 — Friday, September 24, 1999 - North Shore News

Theft averaged

$10,

Fram paac 1

under two vears. Crown fawyer Joseph
Bernardo asked tor three vears in jail, proba-
tion and restitution to ICBC,

Paradis agreed with the jail sentence, bur
said probation was unnecessary.

He did not comment on restitution.

Hall began stealing the money on March
13, 1997, almost one year to the day since
she started working 2t ICRBC’s head office in
North Vancouver.

She continued writing cheques to herself
after she moved jobs from North Vancouver
to the Coquitlam ICBC office.

The ICBC cheques to herself “averaged
almost exactly $10,000 per month,” accord-
ing to the judge’s decision.

When caught, Hal admitted to North
Vancouver Mounties that she took $80,060
to $90,000.

She said she used the money for kids”
clothes, groceries and to “go places.”

Hali was no stranger to stealing money
from her boss while a trusted employee.

Hall was jailed on Feb. 5, 1991 tor three
months and received 18 months’ probation
for stealing about $2,000 while empioyed as
a teller for the Civie Credit Union in New
Westminster.

Hall committed the crime in the summer
of 1990.

Hall’s theft while a teller was discovered
during a surprise audit. Instead of admitting
to the crime as she did with the ICBC
offence, Hall “made a somewhat elaborate
attempt to cover it up,” according to the
judge.

Psychologist Peter Hotz diagnosed Hall
as a “pathologically passive dependent per-
sonality with the existence too of a depressive
disorder and longstanding post traumatic fea-
tures.”

The psychologist said Hal! had a fear of
rejection and abandonment and consequent-
ly “bought friendships, bought atrention and

bought popularity.”

A pre-sentencing report prepared by a
probation officer states: “She (Hall) wishes
that ICBC had caught her sooner given that
she did not try to cover her tracks... Ms. Hati
contends that if ICBC had a red flag system
in place, then she would have been caught
betore it got out of hand.”

Michael Hall deseribed his wite as a
friendly, quiet individual who would do any-
thing for a friend.

Michael Hall said he only noticed his

Mra money on two agcasions: when

» gambling in Las Vegas and when she

paid for their trip to Scotland, according to
the pre-sentencing report.

‘Tracy Hall told police that she didn’t
know why she stole the money and that she
liked to buy things for people.

She told police, “At least my little girl is
too little to understand.”

ICBC spokesman Dean Pelkey said that
Hal?s previous criminal record was not
known to her emplover.

The insurance corporation started con-
ducting broad criminal checks on all new
employees seven months after Hall siarted
work in 1996.

Pelkey said Hall’s work references were
checked.

Hall stated she worked for a charity for
four years. Pelkey said the charity gave her a
good recommendation.

Meanwhile Judge Paradis refused to allow
ICBC to submit a victim impact statement
during court proceedings on Sept. 8.

The judge said it was inappropriate for a
corporation to submit a victim impact state-
ment.

Pelkey said ICBC has an option to sue
Hall for the stolen money.

“We are pleased to see the court send a
message to anvbody that may think that it is

OK to defraud ICBC and che motorists of

British Columbia,” said Pelkey.
Hall will tikely be paroled tn one year.

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Justice program on WV

THE North Vancouver Restorative
Justice Society in partnership with
the North Vancouver RCMP is tak-
ing part in a 13-part Rogers Cable
television series called Partnership in
Policing.

Restorative Justice Society executive
director fasquic Stevulak and oa) North
Vancouver ROMP officer will be featured ina
live 30 minute program to air on Wednesday.
Oct. 20,

Restorative justice can be viewed as a torm
of conflict resolution in cases where harm has
been done, The contlict resolution addresses
the aceds of the victims, the offenders and
the community. In North Vancouver, restora-
tive justice has iargely been aimed at youth,

5-60%
Off Entire “Stock

‘ Hurry! Only: %, days lel 1
’ “Gale es ends Sunday: SePr 2

masks, beats.
Plaques, ving: ma :

The television series began on Sept
and will run Wednesday evenings untit Dee
7 .

Other repies covered in the series include
the Langley ROMP's park watch program,
the Delta Police's graffiti program and the
Vancouver City Police's *Odd Squad.”

The Odd Squad invelves seven ex-beat
officers of the lower downtown eastside who
formed a non-profit society. The Odd Squad
educates the public about downtown eastside
problems such as drugs and prostitution. The
Odd Squad’s first major project is to help
young people keep off drugs.

The television series is sponsored by the
Royal Bank.

—Anna Marie D'Angelo

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