Employers hire employees whom they believe will be trustworthy hard workers. While it is possible to find individuals who fit that bill, there are also employees who cause employers to have doubts about employee conduct. In some cases, previous experiences might lead employers to scrutinize the behavior of current employees.
One issue that can make it more difficult for companies to trust the people who work for them is embezzlement. In many cases, a person who’s embezzling a business’ funds won’t be caught through direct observation. Instead, actions like audits or reports of employees are often what leads to the discovery of embezzlement.
Are you a targeted employee?
Employees may not know right away when they’re being investigated for embezzlement. In some cases, the circumstantial evidence points to the wrong person as the one who’s taking a company’s money. Because of this, it is imperative for businesses to look into every employee, regardless of tenure, position or any other factor, who had access to the assets that are being affected. Investigating all the potential employees can uncover the truth about what’s happening so that one person isn’t being used as a scapegoat.
Why are these investigations usually a secret?
One of the primary reasons is that the company doesn’t want to alert the person who’s taking the assets. If the person knows, they might be able to cover their tracks or find a way to shift the blame to another party.
The other reason is that the company doesn’t need to defame anyone. Making false accusations is bad for business. By keeping the matter confidential, the company is protecting itself from legal claims regarding unduly ruining a person’s reputation.
What should you do if you’re accused?
If you’re accused of embezzlement, you’ll probably face criminal charges. Be careful about what you say regarding the accusations. You don’t need to say anything that could be construed as an admission of guilt. Instead, remain silent and invoke your right to speak to your attorney as soon as it’s appropriate.
Defendants in embezzlement cases often have quite a bit of evidence to sort through. This can provide you with opportunities to call the prosecutor’s claims into question. Just be sure to allow ample time to go through the evidence so that you don’t have to face the court with a rushed defense that doesn’t accurately relay your side of this often complex issue.