Victoria police say a woman was arrested for allegedly stealing more than $1.7 million from a non-profit organization that she worked for in 2023.
The non-profit, Alacrity Canada, learned that bookkeeper Galyna Kulykova had been wiring money from the organization to her own personal accounts after they conducted a scheduled audit late last year.
Court documents show that Alacrity Canada’s Victoria location told police of their concerns on Dec. 6, prompting an investigation that spanned international borders.
The organization’s website shows that Alacrity Canada helps businesses get grants and advises how foreign entrepreneurs can immigrate and grow their business.
Victoria Police say Kulykova was arrested at Vancouver International Airport when she was returning to the country in early 2024.
Police learned of her whereabouts after working with the RCMP police liaison officer at the Canadian Embassy in Turkey, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency, the Canadian Border Services Agency and the Nanaimo RCMP.
Investigators say they have identified over $1.7 million in stolen funds, and have recovered approximately $900,000 of that total so far. Victoria Police say it appears that Kulykova seems to have spent $800,000, some of which was used to buy assets, like gold, cryptocurrency and a new vehicle.
“Alacrity Canada remains in strong financial health in 2024, and no programs or initiatives will be, nor have been, affected by this incident,” Alacrity Canada told CHEK News in a statement.
Police say they are still working on recovering the rest of the funds, and warn that Kulykova may have defrauded other companies as well.
Any other potential victims, or anyone with information on the case, is asked to call VicPD at 250-995-7654 extension 1, or contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-9477 or online.
“I’m proud of the officers involved for their prompt investigative work and coordination with other agencies to make this arrest and recover funds,” said VicPD Chief Del Manak in a release Thursday.
“This is a clear example of how our efforts put money back into the hands of citizens and businesses in Victoria and Esquimalt.”
None of the charges against Kulykova have been proven in court.
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Adam Chan
Kori Sidaway
