Halifax Regional Police say they’ve received an official complaint regarding financial mismanagement within the IWK Health Centre.
“This investigation is anticipated to take some time to complete and police are not prepared to speak to specifics nor potential suspects at this time,” wrote Const. Dianne Penfound in a press release on Thursday.
READ MORE: IWK expense scandal: N.S. auditor general to investigate, provide information to police
The news comes only days after Nova Scotia’s auditor general said he’ll conduct financial and performance audits of the IWK’s books and practices in the wake of an ongoing expense scandal gripping one of Atlantic Canada’s premier hospitals.
Michael Pickup also said he’d turn over all the information his office has to police “for their consideration on any possible legal matters.”
WATCH: IWK Health Centre’s chief financial officer on paid leave after expense scandal
Tracy Kitch, the IWK’s chief executive officer, has resigned and the hospital’s chief financial officer, Stephen D’Arcy, is now on paid leave after it was discovered by an independent audit that Kitch had billed the hospital $47,273.32 in personal expenses or for expenses that weren’t properly justified.
“I am gravely concerned with the ineffectiveness of financial controls and lack of rigour in financial management as publicly reported by the IWK in recent weeks,” said Pickup in a statement on Tuesday.
Penfound says that the complaint has been referred to their Financial Crime Unit for review.