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Robin Hood Or Gull?

J M Shenoy in New York

For several years, Zaira Ali has been known to the Indian and Indian-Trinidadian community for her social activities and interest in the culture of the subcontinent. She was known for her charity work, for the help she gives young immigrants in getting acquainted with the American educational system, and the help she has done in sending hundreds of dollars to start a school in her native Trinidad.

This week, the community is wondering if the charges currently levelled against her could ever be true.

Forty-five-year-old Ali, the officials say, resented her bosses' attitude that she systematically stole nearly $ 1 million from the company where she worked. Her bosses at Stern Stewart had no idea that the alleged theft went on for three years.

According to a suit filed in Manhattan this week, Zaira Ali, who worked in the accounts payable department at Manhattan-based Stern Stewart, may have given out thousands of dollars to her favorite charities.

"She went to great lengths to conceal what she was doing," said Ashley Joffe, the company's chief financial officer, who eventually discovered that money was missing.

Ali has not pleaded guilty and is free on a $ 500,000 bail.

The case came to light last week when an insurer sued to recover $ 974,402 it paid to Stern Stewart, according to the Daily News

Court papers reveal the allegation that Ali ran up more than $ 869,000 in charges on credit cards belonging to Joel Stern, a managing partner of the firm. She is also accused of spending $ 99,000 more on an unauthorized car service which also chauffeured her daily to and from work.

Ali says the confession she had signed was coerced by detectives, who threatened to take away her young son if she did not own up to the crime.

"I didn't take any money, for God's sake," she said.

In the five-page confession, Ali said she admitted taking $ 200,000 from the company.

But she also said:

'I don't feel as if I have stolen anything from Stern Stewart as I feel they owe me much more than I have been given,' she wrote. 'People like myself are made to feel as if we were nothing.'

Next: Thakshak numbers withheld

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