There would be some differences in the way I would conduct a final interview with a 10-year corporate controller accused of embezzling funds and a new cashier accused of stealing cash.
Factors to consider:
- Experience: The corporate controller has a lot more experience and knowledge of financial systems and procedures than the new cashier. This means that the corporate controller is more likely to be able to conceal their embezzlement and to answer my questions in a way that is evasive or misleading.
- Position: The corporate controller is in a position of power and authority. This means that they may be more likely to intimidate me or to try to pressure me to drop the case.
- Motivation: The corporate controller may have embezzled funds for a variety of reasons, such as greed, financial hardship, or revenge. The new cashier may have stolen cash for more immediate reasons, such as to pay for food or rent.
Questions I would ask the corporate controller:
- How did you embezzle the funds?
- What did you do with the money?
- Who else knew about your embezzlement?
Questions I would ask the new cashier:
- Why did you steal the money?
- What did you do with the money?
- Did anyone else know about you stealing the money?
Comparison of the questions:
The questions that I would ask the corporate controller are more open-ended and require more detailed answers. This is because I need to get a better understanding of how the corporate controller embezzled the funds, what they did with the money, and who else may have been involved.
The questions that I would ask the new cashier are more direct and require shorter answers. This is because I am more interested in understanding their motivation for stealing the money and what they did with the money.
Why are the questions different or the same?
The questions are different because of the factors that I mentioned above. The corporate controller has more experience, is in a position of power, and may have a more complex motivation for embezzling funds. The new cashier has less experience, is not in a position of power, and may have a more immediate motivation for stealing cash.
However, the questions are also the same because I am interested in understanding the basic facts of the case, such as how the crime was committed, what was done with the proceeds, and who else may have been involved.
In addition to the questions above, I would also ask both suspects follow-up questions to clarify their answers and to probe for more information. I would also observe their body language and demeanor for any signs of deception.
It is important to note that every interview is different and that I would need to adjust my approach based on the specific circumstances of the case.
