Consultant denies fraud allegations
A Calgary woman accused of defrauding a Japanese immigrant of $2 million spoke out for the first time Thursday, calling the allegations against her “fantastic.”
“I am devastated by these false accusations,” said Melissa Holman, president of the Temporary Foreign Workers Association of Canada.
“It is my fervent hope that these allegations will not tarnish the reputations of my and other decent humanitarian organizations in Canada helping people.”
The 40-year-old faces fraud charges and a civil suit alleging she took money from a recent immigrant and gambled part of it away. Her statement Thursday c o me s as Canada’s top immigration regulator prepares to take a closer look at the Calgarybased agency that Holman helmed.
“We’re aware of the situation,” said Phil Mooney, president of the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council.
“We’ll be looking into this without hesitation,” Mooney said.
Police have said the victim was referred to Holman’s organization last year to seek immigration advice.
Fusako Kametani arrived in Canada on a student visa and had used her savings and inheritance to purchase two houses: one to live in and the other to rent.
Police said Holman told Kametani that by having properties in her name, she could have her assets seized and also face deportation.
It’s also alleged Holman wrote bank drafts worth more than $410,000.
Holman denies the allegations, saying she befriended Kametani, who wanted to appoint her the guardian of her young daughter.
“No immigration advice was ever given to her by me,” Holman said. “The transfer of the two properties was entirely her idea for her personal reasons. The verbal agreement between us was clear that at any time she asked for the properties back, I would return the properties upon her request. This was witnessed by a number of people.”
Holman said the transfer of properties took place with a lawyer present and that six weeks later, when Kametani asked for them back, holman said she did so immediately.
“I just did what I had promised upon request. This all happened nearly 10 months ago. There was no fraud or scam involved,” she said.
“Yes, Ms. Kametani gave me money. I never controlled her bank accounts, nor ever asked to do so. Fusako had also expressed interest in opening sister offices of my not-for-profit organization in Japan, to help with the aftermath of the tsunami. Fusako is a shareholder in my company.”
Holman said she is confident she will be acquitted and asks people to withhold judgment until all facts are known and presented in court.
The statement makes no reference to the gambling allegations.
Meanwhile, Holman remains the president of the Temporary Foreign Workers Association of Canada.
In a brochure, the organization states it offers “consultation on immigration matters” and “representation services before Citizenship and Immigration Canada” to members who pay a onetime “membership fee.”
Neither Holman nor her organization are members of the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council.
A spokesperson for the council said it’s illegal to offer immigration services for a fee if you’re not a lawyer or a member of the council.
Holman has been charged with five counts of fraud over $5,000 and five counts of theft over $5,000 and is scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 21