The RCMP has laid charges against a Royal Bank of Canada employee in Ottawa for allegedly accessing Prime Minister Mark Carney’s banking profile in what investigators suspect was part of an organized crime scheme.
According to court documents, 23-year-old Ibrahim El-Hakim has been charged with fraud over $5,000, unauthorized use of a computer, identity theft, and trafficking in identity information. Police say El-Hakim, who joined RBC in 2022 at a branch near Parliament Hill, improperly used the bank’s systems to access multiple client accounts, including profiles under the names Mark Carney and Justin Trudeau. Investigators have not confirmed if the Trudeau account belonged to the former prime minister.
An affidavit filed by police shows El-Hakim admitted to the allegations in an interview with RBC’s internal security team. Surveillance video captured much of his activity, and he told investigators that he was recruited on Telegram by someone using the alias “AI WORLD,” whom police believe has ties to organized crime. El-Hakim reportedly created fake bank profiles, secured fraudulent lines of credit, and accessed high-profile accounts at the direction of this contact, earning $500 per task and about $5,000 in total.
The RCMP arrested El-Hakim on July 10, later releasing him under conditions. He is scheduled to appear in court next week. Police stressed that there was no threat to the prime minister’s safety or to national security. RBC confirmed El-Hakim is no longer employed with the bank, with spokesperson Cheryl Brean stating the institution worked closely with law enforcement during the investigation.
Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne said while he could not discuss the specifics of the case, the incident highlights the importance of strong privacy safeguards within Canada’s financial system. He added that protecting Canadians’ banking information from fraudulent access must remain a top priority.
According to CBC News, the allegations have not yet been proven in court.
[SRC] https://weeklyvoice.com/rbc-employee-charged-after-allegedly-accessing-pm-carneys-banking-records/
