A Guam Superior Court grand jury handed down an indictment listing 23 charges against Veranice Rose Troves.

The indictment accuses her of tampering with church records, altering amounts on cheques and forging cheques.

Toves was employed as a financial officer at St Francis church in Yona, administered by the Capuchin Franciscans.

Appearing in court, she said that a priest, Fr Jose Villagomez, had given her authority to misappropriate church funds.

But the priest stated that he did not do this.

Reports vary as to how much money is involved, with estimates ranging from thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Fr Patrick Castro, custodian for the Capuchins in Guam, told media he couldn't say approximately how much money was involved.

He said he had been advised by the Church's lawyers not to comment on the details of the case.

The indictment also accuses Toves of tampering, destroying or hiding records with the intent to hide her forgeries or thefts.

When she was arrested last year, Toves claimed she had cancer and so escaped being confined in custody.

She turned herself in to authorities after a warrant was issued for her arrest last week.

She will answer the charges in court on March 9.

Sources

• Pacific Daily News
• KUAM
• Image: KUAM