Gambling Addiction

Crown seeks jail time for Ajax woman convicted of fraud

Victims lost $1 million on phoney investments

Pam Douglas

AJAX -- An Ajax woman who bilked victims out of more than $1 million should be sent to prison, a Brampton court heard Friday.

Prosecutor Andrew Falls told Mr. Justice Bruce Durno that Shaneeza Hardyal's "large-scale" fraud has devastated more than 20 victims from Cambridge to Oshawa, and she should be sentenced to between three and five years in the penitentiary.

"Families have been torn apart," Mr. Falls told the judge.

"The impact on the victims is extensive. This is nothing less than devastating."

Ms. Hardyal, 37, pleaded guilty in July to fraud over $5,000, admitting she told victims their money would be invested and earn a significant return. She was arrested and charged in November 2007.

Detective Brett McCagherty said four victims in Durham Region were defrauded of $250,000 by Ms. Hardyal.

"She convinced people to invest money with her on land investment schemes that never took place," he said.

"She defrauded people in the same general type of scheme in Durham, Toronto, Peel and Waterloo."

All of the allegations against Ms. Hardyal are being dealt with in Brampton, Det. McCagherty said.

Ms. Hardyal's lawyer was expected to ask the court for a conditional sentence that she could serve in the community.

Christopher Ellis told the judge his client had a gambling problem, but this past May started seeing a therapist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health who specializes in gambling addiction.

Several of Ms. Hardyal's victims were in court for the sentencing hearing Friday, including a Brampton woman who said she lost her house, her job and $250,000 investing in what Ms. Hardyal, who she knew as Sherry Singh, said was a land flipping investment.â?¨ Presenting several letters attesting to her remorse and her work in the community, Mr. Ellis told the court that Ms. Hardyal, her husband and four children have started attending church regularly.

"She's stood before the congregation and told them her life story, confessing her conduct," Mr. Ellis told the court, saying she has expressed remorse.

But Mr. Falls said a prison term is needed to deter similar crimes.

"It is exactly a case such as this that screams out for general deterrence," he said. "These types of schemes are unacceptable and are deserving of a penitentiary sentence."

Ms. Hardyal's criminal record, which includes a 2001 conviction in relation to 26 charges of fraudulent use of a credit card was presented to the court.

Justice Durno reserved judgment on a sentence.