There appear to have been "significant" fraudulent claims for reimbursement made to the MSU Healing Assistance Fund, an email from the Michigan State University Police Department said Friday.
The fund was established in December 2017 to provide survivors of ex-MSU doctor Larry Nassar's abuse with resources needed for counseling and mental health services. No fraudulent claims have been made by Nassar survivors who filed civil or criminal complaints, according to MSUPD Chief Jim Dunlap.
The fraudulent financial claims are in relation to "reimbursement by the fund and payouts for those claims," Dunlap said.
In July, MSU spokesperson Emily Guerrant said the university decided to suspend further payments to the Healing Assistance Fund in light of an investigation into fraudulent claims.
"Due to an investigation into fraudulent claims made to the Healing Assistance Fund, the university is suspending payments until the investigation is complete," the Healing Assistance Fund website said.
An investigation into the alleged fraud was transferred from the university to MSUPD in the fall, the Lansing State Journal reported on Sept. 6.
The criminal investigation will continue for a "lengthy period of time," due to the complex nature of the fraud, according to MSUPD.
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