The former treasurer of a Suffolk naval veterans’ organisation is due to appear in court this week charged with fraud after £78,000 was allegedly withdrawn from its accounts.
The money was allegedly taken from the HMS Ganges Association, a group set up for people who served at the former naval training base in Shotley Gate.
Detectives from Hampshire Police investigating the allegations charged Martin Foster, of Uxbridge, Middlesex, with two counts of fraud by abuse of position.
The 54-year-old is due to appear before magistrates in Portsmouth on Friday.
It is alleged that Foster made debit card transactions of more than £4,200 and cash machine withdrawals of more than £74,000 from the association’s accounts between August 2010 and June last year.
Hampshire officers are dealing with the case, as the person who reported the allegations to police lives in the county.
The HMS Ganges Association has more than 3,500 members who were stationed in Shotley Gate during their naval careers. The training base closed in 1976.
Membership is open to all personnel who were on the books of HMS Ganges, HMS St George and HMS Bruce.
The ages of members range from 100 to those still serving in the Royal Navy.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here