WATCH: Centex is denying rumours it charges employees for stolen gas following the fatal hit-and-run that killed employee Maryam Rashidi in early June. Nancy Hixt reports.
CALGARY – A Calgary gas retail chain is speaking out about speculation the company was charging employees for stolen gas.
It’s the first time Centex has responded to the allegations, since a fatal hit-and-run on June 7.
Maryam Rashidi was run over while attempting to stop a gas-and-dash at the Centex she worked at. She succumbed to her injuries two days later.
READ MORE: Calgary gas-and-dash death raises questions, renews calls for new law
For weeks, members of the public have contacted Global News, alleging the gas station forced employees to pay for stolen gas.
Centex responded on Tuesday, sending the below statement to Global News:
“I have never heard of this happening at any of our stores and Centex policy is for management to absorb the loss. We are conducting an internal review by contacting dealers, managers, current staff, and thus far have uncovered no improper conduct.”
Centex said if an employee was treated unfairly, the company would “welcome the opportunity to investigate the matter and take appropriate action to rectify the matter.”
Scroll down to read the full statement from Centex
Meanwhile, Rashidi’s husband is headed to his homeland of Iran.
“Our family are waiting for us and maybe we will have some ceremony in Maryam’s memory.”
READ MORE: ‘She was the best thing I had’ – Husband mourns hit-and-run victim
The last time Ahmad Nourani Shallo was at the Calgary airport, he was with his wife and son, the day their dream of building a better life in Calgary began.
On Wednesday, he left the city with his 6-year-old son, Koorosh.
“He speaks about his mom and yeah, he says, ‘Dad, I miss mom,’” said Nourani Shallo.
He says right now being in Calgary brings up too many painful memories.
“I can’t forget Maryam’s memory,” he said. “When I come back to Calgary I should take another place to live with Koorosh.”
Nourani Shallo says he has no interest in any investigation at the gas station, and doesn’t plan to follow the court process.
He says nothing will bring Maryam back, and that’s the only thing that he wants for himself and his son.
Full statement from Centex spokesperson Shafiq Bhura:
“With respect to converting stores to prepay, six of our seven corporate stores have a majority of lanes as pre-pay. Some of these stores, including our location at 16 Avenue, were already partially prepay before the incident of June 7. We experimented with having the stores being fully prepay after the incident of June 7. However, the feedback from customers was largely negative and we had to go back to providing a pay after lane option.
In regards to holding staff accountable for gas theft by docking their pay or holding their employment in jeopardy, this is not a practice of Centex Petroleum. I have never heard of this happening at any of our stores and Centex policy is for management to absorb the loss. We are conducting an internal review by contacting dealers, managers, current staff, and thus far have uncovered no improper conduct. If an incident has happened where an employee was treated unfairly, we would welcome the opportunity to investigate the matter and take appropriate action to rectify the matter.
The staff at the 16 Ave. location remains the same and there have been no dismissals since the death of Maryam. Surveillance equipment and Card Readers for pay at pump were installed from opening day in an effort to provide safety for our staff and convenience to our customers.
What happened to Maryam was a tragedy and she is deeply missed.”
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