TORONTO -- The Mounties say they have charged a former Citizenship and Immigration Canada employee with breach of trust after she allegedly helped 22 people fraudulently obtain Canadian passports.
They say Aline Zeitoune, 50, of Toronto also faces 96 additional charges.
Zeitoune worked in the CIC's passport division.
The RCMP say the probe began in March 2013, when the force was contacted by investigators with the CIC's passport program who suspected one of their employees of processing fraudulent applications.
Zeitoune was arrested Thursday and was scheduled to appear in court later Friday.
Four of the 22 people who allegedly obtained Canadian passports fraudulently have also been charged with passport offences.
"Criminals will go to great lengths to obtain fake or fraudulent passports to allow them the freedom to travel throughout the world," said Sgt. Louie Casale of the Toronto West Serious and Organized Crime Team.
"It is very important to maintain the reputation of the Canadian passport and the RCMP will diligently investigate those responsible for passport fraud."
