The Toronto Police Fraud Squad is looking for a bookkeeper they believe may have fled the country for Kenya after allegedly stealing money from a string of day-care centres.
Investigators say David Reiner, 60, is suspected of defrauding 21 child-care centres and stealing $755,000 over a four-month period in 2006. An arrest warrant was issued for Reiner on Friday.
The self-employed bookkeeper, who had worked for some of the day-cares for 19 years, is now believed to be living in Nairobi, Kenya.
The affected day-care centres discovered that money Reiner was controlling had gone missing. He was providing accounting, payroll and tax services for the companies.
Money which was supposed to go to the government from the companies' payrolls was allegedly diverted.
At least two day-care centres lost over $100,000 each.
Police obtained warrants and searched Reiner's home and bank accounts. Following the search, police charged Reiner with 21 counts of fraud and 21 counts of theft by a person required to account.
The government was short-changed in the alleged fraud and theft. The day-care centres are responsible for refunding the tax money to government.
Police are unable to extradite the suspect from Kenya but said Reiner will be arrested if he returns to Canada or moves to an eligible country.
Anyone with information about Reiner is asked to call Det. Garry Hickey at (416) 808-7319 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at (416) 222-TIPS (8477).
With a report from CTV's Jim Junkin and files from The Canadian Press
