Wednesday, August 21, 2013

King's College tightlipped on embezzlement case in Pennsylvania

They told their insurance carrier it was a "crime," but King's College officials wouldn't say Tuesday whether they ever alerted law enforcement after discovering an employee allegedly embezzled more than $57,000

The college remained mum on the topic Tuesday, after The Citizens' Voice reported on a lawsuit describing the alleged theft, and declined to answer questions about whether it sought a criminal investigation.

"The college will have no further comment on the pending suit," King's College spokesman John McAndrew said in an email.

The insurance carrier, Travelers Casualty and Surety Co. of America, filed a lawsuit last week claiming former King's College Human Resources Director Erin A. Savitski embezzled $57,399 by routinely adding extra cash to her paychecks and taking other unauthorized disbursements from college coffers.

The college fired Savitski, of Jackson Township, on Aug. 29, 2011, days after officials uncovered the fraud scheme, according to the lawsuit. The suit demands Savitski repay $52,399 to the insurance company for covering the college's losses and reimburse King's College for a $5,000 deductible it paid. College officials listed "crime" as the reason for submitting the insurance claim, according to a copy of the claim included with the lawsuit as an exhibit.

No charges have been filed.

The Luzerne County District Attorney's Office, the chief prosecuting agency in the county, confirmed Tuesday it had not received any reports about the alleged theft.

Officials with Wilkes-Barre police, the state police and state attorney general's office said they were checking to see if the alleged theft was ever reported to their respective agencies. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania declined comment.

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