A former accounting manager for Seattle Children’s now faces felony theft charges as prosecutors claim he embezzled nearly $100,000 to pay for a house of worship.

The longtime controller at Children’s, Bram Deo is alleged to have paid for the construction of a Seattle-area Hindu temple with money stolen from the child healthcare organization. Deo, 53, resigned in August and has now been charged with five counts of first-degree theft.

King County prosecutors claim Deo paid a general contractor $96,250 directly from Children’s coffers in 2011 and 2012. They say the theft was discovered by Children’s last year and reported to Seattle police in January, after Deo had paid back the stolen money.

Contacted Tuesday, spokeswoman Alyse Bernal said Children’s has since implemented new procedures aimed at reducing the risk of fraud and theft.

“We take our responsibility as financial stewards very seriously and are confident in the security of our controls,” said Bernal, noting that Deo also repaid Children’s the $59,149 it cost to investigate the thefts.

Writing the court, a Seattle Police Department detective said Deo admitted to the thefts when he was confronted by his employer and then resigned rather than be fired. Deo had worked in Children’s accounting department since 2003.

Deo also managed the finances of a Hindu organization that opened a Des Moines temple in 2013, according to charging papers. Deo is alleged to have arranged for Children’s to pay for the temple’s construction directly after convincing the contractor Children’s was donating money for the project.

The contractor later told police Deo described the arrangement as “on the up and up” and “perfectly legal.” Deo, the man said, wrote up the invoices to Children’s himself