The First Nations Leadership Council is sa国际传媒渄eeply outragedsa国际传媒� after parole was granted to a man who deprived and stole money from vulnerable Indigenous youth who were in his care while he worked as a social worker.
Over a period of six and a half years, Robert Riley Saunders took approximately $461,000 intended for the youth in his care, said Crown counsel during the trial. He was convicted in July of 2022 and sentenced to serve five years in prison for fraud, and breach of trust for forging a document.
However, 14 months after being sentenced, the National Parole Board granted Saunderssa国际传媒� request for day parole, meaning he is allowed to go to work during the day.
Today, the First Nations Leadership Council released a statement saying it is sa国际传媒渟hocked, appalled and deeply outragedsa国际传媒� and, that as an organization, it condemns the decision. The council is calling on the parole board to issue an immediate reversal.
sa国际传媒淭his decision flies in the face of the spirit of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People which has many sections aimed at protecting Indigenous youthsa国际传媒irst Nations people need to have a stronger voice at the parole hearings when it is First Nations people who are the victims,sa国际传媒� said Regional Chief Terry Teegee of the BC Assembly of First Nations.
Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs vice-president Chief Don Tom said the parole board and justice system sa国际传媒渉as once again failed First Nations victims.sa国际传媒�
Throughout the trial, Crown Counsel emphasized the fact that Saunders chose to target Indigenous youth, explaining that it is relevant and aggravating, given Canadasa国际传媒檚 history of systemic abuse against First Nations people.
Throughout the trial, Saunders maintained the youth experienced no financial deprivation and were not entitled to the funds he misappropriated.
During the trial, Saunders also said many of the youth that he deprived of funds were sa国际传媒渘ot trustworthy.sa国际传媒� He explained that providing the youth with the money would have been sa国际传媒渋rresponsible.sa国际传媒� Instead, Saunders said that he issued the funds to himself and thought that no one would notice.
Many of the youth suffered significant trauma, homelessness and substance use because of the actions of Saunders, said Crown.
Multiple victims provided impact statements and said that due to the lies and deceit by Saunders, they do not trust authority figures and are apprehensive about seeking help from the ministry or other state-run organizations.
sa国际传媒淢y trust in the systems that are supposed to support me is destroyed,sa国际传媒� said one youth.
