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"Cliff
Robertson didn't come forward to get rich; he was
already rich. And he certainly didn't tell the truth
about (movie mogul) David Begelman to become famous;
Cliff was already famous. He did the right thing for one
and only one reason: because it was the right thing."
~ Joseph T. Wells, CFE, CPA, Chairman and founder of the
ACFE |
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Robertson's career was abruptly interrupted when he
learned that studio head David Begelman had written a
check for $10,000, payable to Robertson for work
Robertson had not done. And after writing the check,
Begelman had then endorsed it, to himself. The situation
smelled funny to Robertson.
Indecent Exposure, a
book by David McClintick, details the scandal, which
turned out to be much bigger than one phony $10,000
check. Begelman pleaded no contest to grand theft, was
fined $5,000, jumped to a different studio, and
continued his career. Years later he committed suicide.
Robertson was unofficially blacklisted, and was for
several years absent from the big screen.
The ACFE and Robertson
have established the Sentinel Award to recognize
annually the selfless act of coming forward for the sole
purpose of righting a wrong. The award carries the
inscription, "For Choosing Truth Over Self." ACFE
members will be able to nominate future candidates for
the Sentinel Award.
Click here to visit the Association of Certified Fraud
Examiners Website. |
