Ex-RBC employee charged after unauthorized client data access

A former Royal Bank of Canada employee has been charged with multiple offences after federal police say he accessed clients' accounts, including the personal data of Prime Minister Mark Carney. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police confirmed Wednesday that 23 year old Ottawa resident Ibrahim ElHakim faces charges of fraud over $5,000, unauthorized use of a computer, identity theft and trafficking in identity information following a complaint from the bank earlier this summer.

RCMP spokesperson Erique Gasse said investigators opened the probe in early July after RBC flagged suspicious activity. ElHakim was arrested on July 10 and released on a promise to appear with conditions, Gasse said. He appeared in Ottawa court on August 6 and is scheduled to appear again on October 1. Further charges may be laid as the investigation continues, police added.

Gasse said the accused allegedly used RBC's information technology services to consult several client profiles without authorization and to participate in fraud. He confirmed that among the records accessed was personal information belonging to Prime Minister Mark Carney, but added that the investigation so far has not identified any threat...