Adjudicative Tribunal Decisions – Winter 2024
The adjudicative committees of CPA Ontario are an independent tribunal that hears and decides disciplinary and regulatory matters referred to it by CPA Ontario and appeals from those matters. The most recent discipline decisions, settlement agreements, good character decisions, and appeal decisions can be found below.
Discipline Committee
Name: Allan S. Grossman (1969, Toronto)
[Revoked CPA, CA]
Rule:
Rule 201.1 – Maintenance of the good reputation of the profession
Conduct:
The Member was found to have breached the Securities Act, as described in the Reasons and Decision of the Ontario Securities Commission Tribunal dated March 28, 2022.
Finding:
On October 3, 2023, the Member was found to have committed professional misconduct by breaching Rule 201.1 of the CPA Ontario Code of Professional Conduct.
Sanction:
Reprimand
$25,000 fine
Revocation
Notice to all members of CPA Ontario, all provincial CPA bodies, and the public
Newspaper publication
Costs: $7,697
Name: Rauf Hameed (2017, Guelph)
Rule:
[Revoked CPA, CA]
Rule 201.1 – Maintenance of the good reputation of the profession
Rule 205 – False or misleading documents and oral representations
Conduct:
The Member made or associated with false or misleading statements and representations related to his applications for employment, in that he simultaneously maintained full-time employment with two accounting firms without advising the firms, impersonated another individual to obtain confidential information, and sent over 100 emails to a company, government agencies, officials, and regulators alleging fraud against the company and that the company was engaged in fraud.
Finding:
On September 26, 2023, the Panel was satisfied that Allegations 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6 were proven and constituted breaches of Rules 201.1 and 205 of the Code of Professional Conduct. The Member was found to have committed professional misconduct. The Panel concluded that Allegation 4 was not proven.
Sanction:
Reprimand
$20,000 fine
Revocation
Notice to all members of CPA Ontario, all provincial CPA bodies, and the public
Newspaper publication
Costs: $58,750
Name:Shamsuddin Tejani (2001, Markham)
[Revoked CPA, CA]
Rules:
Rule 201.1 – Maintenance of the good reputation of the profession
Rule 206.1 – Compliance with professional standards
Conduct:
The Member issued ten assurance engagement reports without advising the supervisor of their existence or obtaining supervisor sign-off as was required pursuant to a Supervision Agreement and failed to perform his professional services in accordance with generally accepted standards of practice of the profession while engaged to perform audits of financial statements.
Finding:
On September 22, 2023, the Member was found to have committed professional misconduct by breaching Rules 201.1 and 206.1 of the CPA Ontario Code of Professional Conduct.
Sanction:
Reprimand
$12,500 fine
Revocation
Notice to all members of CPA Ontario, all provincial CPA bodies, and the public
Newspaper publication
Costs: $15,000
Name: Mihonron M. Camara (2007, Toronto)
[Revoked CPA, CGA]
Rules:
Rule 104.2 – Requirement to cooperate
Conduct:
Between March 24, 2023 and May 10, 2023, the Member failed to cooperate with the regulatory process of CPA Ontario in that he failed or refused to promptly produce documents when required to do so by CPA Ontario.
Finding:
On September 6, 2023, the Member was found to have committed professional misconduct by breaching Rule 104.2 of the CPA Ontario Code of Professional Conduct.
Sanction:
Reprimand
$10,000 fine
Order to cooperate with the Professional Conduct Committee
Notice to all members of CPA Ontario, all provincial CPA bodies, and the public
Costs: $10,900
The Member was revoked on October 24, 2023, for failing to comply with the Decision and Order of the Discipline Committee dated September 6, 2023.
Name: Mihajlo (Mike) Kangrga (1998, Etobicoke)
[Suspended CPA, CA]
Rules:
Rule 104.2 – Requirement to co-operate
Conduct:
Between November 18, 2022 to May 26, 2023, the Member failed to cooperate with the regulatory process of CPA Ontario in that he failed to promptly reply in writing to communications from CPA Ontario to which a written reply was specifically required.
Finding:
On September 20, 2023, the Member was found to have committed professional misconduct by breaching Rule 104.2 of the CPA Ontario Code of Professional Conduct.
Sanction:
Reprimand
$5,000 fine
Order to cooperate with the Professional Conduct Committee
Notice to all members of CPA Ontario, all provincial CPA bodies, and the public
Costs: $4,300
The Member was suspended on October 11, 2023 for failing to comply with the Decision and Order of the Discipline Committee dated September 20, 2023.
Name: Michael E. Spitters (2016, London)
[Revoked CPA, CA]
Rules:
Rule 104.2 – Requirement to co-operate
Rule 201.1 – Maintenance of the good reputation of the profession
Conduct:
Between July 1, 2020 and January 31, 2022, the Member misappropriated approximately $33,219 from his employer and from August 1, 2022 to February 28, 2023, failed to cooperate with the regulatory process of CPA Ontario.
Finding:
On August 30, 2023, the Member was found to have committed professional misconduct by breaching Rules 104.2 and 201.1 of the CPA Ontario Code of Professional Conduct.
Sanction:
Reprimand
$30,000 fine
Revocation
Notice to all members of CPA Ontario, all provincial CPA bodies, and the public
Newspaper publication
Costs: $80,000
Name: Deloitte LLP
[Settlement Agreement]
Conduct:
The Firm failed to establish, maintain, and uphold appropriate policies and procedures to ensure that: its services were performed in accordance with generally accepted standards of practice of the profession; and in the conduct of the practice, the members who are associated with the Firm complied with the CPA Ontario Code of Professional Conduct.
Terms:
On October 27, 2023, the following settlement terms were approved:
- $900,000 fine
- Notice to all members of CPA Ontario, Public Accounting Standards Committee, all provincial CPA bodies, and the public
- Newspaper publication
- Costs of $695,000
Name: PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
[Settlement Agreement]
Conduct:
The Firm failed to establish, maintain, and uphold appropriate policies and procedures to ensure that: its services were performed in accordance with generally accepted standards of practice of the profession; and in the conduct of the practice, the members who are associated with the Firm complied with the CPA Ontario Code of Professional Conduct.
Terms:
On December 11, 2023, the following settlement terms were approved:
- $1,000,000 fine
- Notice to all members of CPA Ontario, Public Accounting Standards Committee, all provincial CPA bodies, and the public
- Newspaper publication
- Costs of $455,000