Former York University officials charged for $1.2-million fraud

Toronto Police have charged former York University officials with fraud and money laundering.

Michaelo Markicevic was Assistant Vice President of Campus Services and Business Operations at York until early 2010. Philip Brown was employed as Director of Maintenance. The pair allegedly billed York for goods and services it never received and services in excess of the market value.

Det. Adkin Holder told The Toronto Star that about half of the $1.2-million fraud involved maintenance and construction contracts. York staff alerted police to a potential problem.

Markicevic, a former Collingwood police officer, received $233,000 in pay at York in 2009 and another $210,000 in 2010 despite his February departure. Brown was paid $111,000 in 2009.

“As a not-for-profit institution entrusted with monies from our students and public funds, York University takes its fiduciary responsibilities very seriously and has rigorous procurement policies and procedures in place,” York president Mamdouh Shoukri said Thursday.

York has filed civil suits against the accused, according to The Globe and Mail.