Reverent Pleads Guilty to Burning Through More than CA$438,000 Refugee Support Cash in Casino Venues

Reverent Amer Saka who gambled away hundreds of thousands of Canadian dollars meant to bring back refugees to Canada recently pleaded guilty to one count of fraud over CA$5,000. Allegedly as a result of his gambling addiction he managed to burn through more than CA$438,000 over the span of two years. Upon further estimation, the amount surged to CA$640,000, but in the process of investigations, the Crown stated that it might increase even further.

Problem gambling is among the most concerning topics among communities where there is casino operation in progress. The compulsive form of gambling where an individual loses track of time spent at a given venue and this interferes with their everyday life and duties is not uncommon among people interested in gaming. Many individuals were directly or indirectly affected by the gambling addiction of Rev. Amer Saka who took advantage of money meant to be spent otherwise.

Problem Gambling Has Devastating Impact on People

Families who have their relatives trapped in Iraq refugee camps wanted to see their loved ones once again which is what prompted the donation campaign. Copious amount of cash was poured into the idea, in the hopes that torn apart families will reunite. However, Father Saka of the St. Joseph Chaldean Catholic Church in London and St. Oraha Chaldean Catholic Church in Kitchener has other plans for the cash that was used for fueling his already raging gambling addiction.

February 2016 saw his confession to Bishop Emanuel Shaleta that the money amassed for bringing refugees back to Canada and reuniting them with their families and friends were in fact spent on gambling activities. Rev. Saka played at various casino venues in the area spending the cash on his unhealthy habit. Soon after his confession he was suspended and referred to Southdown Institute gambling addiction assistance service that helped him with his mental health.

Bishop Shaleta stated back then that the issue is serious and should not be overlooked which led to the fraud investigation led by the London law-enforcement division. Even though families were willing to give a large portion of that they had in order to see their loved ones, this did not stop the Reverent from gambling the money away.

Overall Cash Gambled Reaches CA$640,000

The latest hearing took place only recently and saw Rev. Saka plead guilty of conducting a fraud over CA$5,000. Initial estimations showed that donations failed to reach CA$500,000 in total, but this statement was altered as of recently. The Roman Catholic Diocese compensated the families directly affected by the gambling tendencies with some CA$207,000. Estimations at the moment show that the overall amount might reach even higher than the current one as more details emerge.

Rev. Saka is from Iraq and this is what gave him the idea to provide assistance and support to people directly affected by the refugee crisis. Ever since 2011, this sponsorship program gave individuals the hope that they are going to see their family members again. The Reverent reached the Diocese of Hamilton for assistance, essentially making it the sponsorship agreement holder. Donated cash was held in trust guaranteeing its safety and over the span of three years, as many as five families achieved their goal.

By 2015 Saka’s previous errors were unearthed, highlighting practices to the likes of taking cash prior to applications approval, followed by 2016 discovery that families making their way to Canada fail to obtain the trust money they are eligible for. The overall amount of cash he gave them over this period barely crossed the CA$17,000 mark. Problem gambling in itself is a considerable time-sensitive issue that prompts immediate action in order to prevent future devastating impact, potentially involving the larger community group.