Canadian priest claims he gambled away half a million dollars for Iraqi refugees

Police are investigating the case in London, Ontario

Priest Amer Saka was leading a constituent group to raise funds (Reuters)

Canadian church officials have reported that one of their priests has claimed to have spent more than C$500,000 in gambling debts instead of using the money to pay for refugee sponsorship.

Police are investigating Father Amer Saka, a priest at the St Joseph Chaldean Catholic Church in Ontario, after he told his bishop Emanuel Shaleta, head of the Chaldean Church, that he had spent the money that was intended to help his parishioners' relatives enter the country.

“He called me on the phone and...said he lost all the money. I said, ‘How?’ He said, ‘Gambling,’” Mr Shaleta told the Toronto Star.

“We believe that Father Saka has a serious gambling problem and that these funds may have been used for that purpose,” he added. “Since there is an investigation going on, we cannot confirm what he’s saying.”

Mr Saka, who was leading a group of people raising funds in London, a city of about 300,000 people in south-western Ontario, was suspended immediately.

He was then taken for several days of voluntary treatment at Southdown Institute, a non-profit organisation near Toronto for priests who are struggling with depression, drug addiction and sexually abusive behaviour.

The money raised by Mr Saka and his team has allowed 10 people from Iraq to come to Canada, with applications in process for 10 more.

Now all of the refugees are left without financial backing, another diocese in Hamilton has taken over responsibility for their support.

Sponsorship agreements in Canada, which cost about C$6,000 per person, require financial support for refugees for at least the first year after they arrive.

As of yet no charges have been made while the police continue to search bank records. Mr Saka did not respond to request for comment from the Toronto Star.

The Chaldean Catholic Church is based in Baghdad and represents Catholics from Iraq and nearby countries, and is ultimately overseen by the Vatican.