B.C. care aide who allegedly defrauded elderly patients faces 65 new charges

A care aide in Surrey, B.C., is facing dozens of criminal charges for allegedly defrauding elderly victims, according to RCMP.

A statement on Thursday said Ana Marie LatChamdal, 30, has been charged with 65 new counts on top ofsix previously sworn against her last year bringing the total to 71.

Mounties said some of the new countsinclude fraud over $5,000, assault, theft of credit cards and possession of a forged document.

"The new charges are in relation to 19 victims, with the majority of the alleged frauds occurring in Surrey," the statement read.

Care aides are also known as health care assistants, or HCAs. They provide personal care in a variety of health-care settings, like hospitals andassisted living facilities, or in the community.

In B.C., HCAs are not regulatedor governed by any regulatory body as doctors,nurses and other health professionals are.

The RCMP statement did not nameChamdal's employer. In an email, Fraser Health said ithad no record of anyone by her name ever being employed by the health authority.

Investigation began last summer

Prosecutors swore the first six charges against Chamdallast July.

A statement from RCMP that month said the investigation began when officers in Richmondreceived a report in June that a wallet had beenstolen from a 96-year old man's home in the city.

Credit and debit cards from hiswallet were being fraudulently used in Surrey and neighbouring Delta.

Financial crime investigators identified Chamdal as a suspect. She'd been hired to help care for the elderly man, but allegedly stole his wallet and used his cards instead, the statement said.

Chamdal was released on bail last summer but arrested again Wednesday on the new charges.

Sheremains in custody pending her next court appearance Thursday afternoon.