Elder Abuse investigation leads to charges of city cab driver

The EPS Elder Abuse Unit has charged an Edmonton taxi driver with theft over $5,000 in connection with a 2016 elder abuse investigation.

The charges were announced earlier today, Wednesday June 15^th, on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.

“Similar to domestic violence, elder abuse is a crime that often goes undetected and is under-reported to police,” said Det. Alf Ma, of the EPS Senior Protection Unit, who earlier today charged Antoine Chebli, 59, with theft over $5,000 in connection with an alleged abuse of Power of Attorney responsibilities.

“Often, these crimes are perpetrated by family members or close friends, by people elderly victims trust and consider as loved ones. There are so many vulnerabilities that seniors often face, as they age.

“Trusting a loved one or friend to take care of their needs shouldn’t be one of them.”

Chebli is alleged to have stolen more than $10,000 from the complainant Lois Holland, 79, of Edmonton, between December 2014 and September 2015, after making unauthorized withdrawals from Holland’s bank account. Holland had appointed Chebli as her Power of Attorney and granted him joint access to her bank account. The complainant had initially hired the accused to be her driver, and to take her to medical appointments, to pick up groceries and various other appointments.

Last month, the EPS Elder Abuse Unit also charged a 53-year-old Edmonton man with allegedly stealing $265,000 from his 94-year-old grandmother, who had entrusted him with Power of Attorney responsibilities.

The EPS launched a public awareness campaign today that will run throughout June and the first two weeks of July, including a television commercial and social media messaging, with the goal of raising public awareness about elder abuse. Click here to view EPS Elder Abuse Awareness Commercial.
The United Nations passed a resolution designating June 15^th as the annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day back in 2011.

According to the UN, the global population of people aged 60 years of age and older is anticipated to more than double, from 542 million in 1995 to about 1.2 billion in 2025.

The UN also estimates between four to six per cent of elderly people have experienced some form of maltreatment at home.

Elder maltreatment can lead to serious physical injuries and long-term psychological consequences. The incidence of abuse towards the elderly is predicted to increase as many countries are experiencing rapidly aging populations.

from Media Releases http://ift.tt/1PtVp0B