An investigation has been launched into the disappearance of tens of thousands of dollars from the non-profit Diversity Institute of Bermuda, The Royal Gazette has learned.

Institute chairwoman Cris Valdes-Dapena confirmed yesterday that there had been "a misappropriation of funds" by a former employee at the charity, which operates out of the Bermuda College campus in Paget.

She said it was in the process of being investigated by "appropriate authorities".

Ms Valdes-Dapena declined to elaborate on the details of who the suspected thief was, or the amount of money that had been stolen. But she said an alleged misappropriation of funds had gone on until the middle of last year.

A source close to the Institute told The Royal Gazette the former senior employee had stolen approximately $80,000 and $90,000.

The Diversity Institute was founded in 1998 by Argentine Sanders-Craig of the NTL Institute of Applied Behavioural Sciences, based in Alexandria, Virginia, and former president of Bermuda College George Cook.

According to its website, the organisation's ambit includes offering training programmes to increase awareness in how to treat people of diverse backgrounds and it has in the past been contracted by the Education Ministry and the Bermuda Police Service.

Asked what state the Institute's funds were in now, Ms Valdes-Dapena said: "I think it's appropriate to say that we are solvent and we are pursuing our activities."

Several of members of the Institute's board of trustees declined comment yesterday when The Royal Gazette called them.