Affidavit claims former branch client adviser used bank's information technology services for criminal purposes
A former Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) employee is facing multiple charges after allegedly accessing Prime Minister Mark Carney’s banking profile in a possible plot linked to organized crime.
The RCMP has charged 23-year-old Ibrahim El-Hakim, a former branch client adviser, with identity theft and trafficking in identity information, unauthorized use of a computer, and fraud over $5,000.
Court documents claim El-Hakim, who allegedly accessed Carney’s profile at an RBC branch near Parliament Hill on June 17, also entered a Justin Trudeau’s banking profile on the same date, although it was not that of Carney’s predecessor as prime minister.
El-Hakim admitted to the allegations in an interview with the bank’s internal security, according to the document. An affidavit requesting preservation of computer data for the investigation claims he used the bank’s technology for criminal purposes including fraud and unauthorized access to multiple banking profiles.
The affidavit also says El-Hakim claimed a person using the moniker “AI WORLD” on the Telegram social media platform lured him into the plan. He said he received payment of $500 each time he completed a request, and a total of about $5,000.
El-Hakim also created fake profiles at the bank and obtained lines of credit at the request of his Telegram contact, he told RBC.
The story was first reported by La Presse and the Journal de Montréal, and CBC/Radio-Canada saw the affidavit. In a statement, RBC spokesperson Cheryl Brean said the bank had worked closely with law enforcement during the investigation.
She confirmed that El-Hakim was no longer employed at RBC. He was arrested on July 10 and released under conditions, and is likely to appear in court next week.
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