Key Takeaways
- Halton police allege the former secretary of the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Canada filed fraudulent expense claims and redirected diocese funds into accounts he personally control
- Investigators put the losses at more than $200,000
- Jovan Marjanac, 40, of Wingham has been charged with one count of fraud over $5,000
More Than $200,000 Missing. The Church's Former Secretary Is Now Charged.
The money was supposed to go to the church. Police allege some of it went into the former secretary's personal accounts instead.
Now, a fraud investigation at the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Canada in Milton has led to an arrest, one criminal charge and reported losses exceeding $200,000.
How the Money Allegedly Disappeared
It started with allegations of suspicious expense claims.
In August 2026, the Halton Regional Police Financial Crimes Unit began investigating claims that the diocese's former secretary had submitted fraudulent expenses and improperly redirected money intended for the diocese into accounts under his personal control.
Following what police describe as an extensive investigation, investigators determined that the alleged fraudulent activity had caused financial losses exceeding $200,000.
That's more than $200,000 allegedly diverted from funds intended for a religious institution.
One Arrest, One Fraud Charge
On October 21, 2026, investigators arrested Jovan Marjanac, 40, of Wingham, Ontario.
Marjanac, the diocese's former secretary, was charged with one count of fraud over $5,000.
The allegations are serious, but an important distinction remains: the charge has not been proven in court.
Police Are Still Looking for Information
The arrest hasn't ended the call for information.
Anyone who knows something about the investigation is asked to contact the Halton Regional Police Financial Crimes Unit at 905-825-4777, extension 8746.
The Twikup Take
A church depends on trust. Its members trust that money intended for their religious community will reach its destination.
This case raises a troubling question: what happens when the person trusted to handle that money is accused of redirecting it?
The allegations remain unproven, and the court process will determine what happens next.
More than $200,000 in reported losses, one former secretary charged, and a community left waiting for answers.
Image: AI-generated illustration.