RBC employee charged for accessing PM Carney’s personal data

The RCMP have charged Ibrahim El-Hakim, who was an employee at RBC, after he allegedly accessed the personal data of PM Mark Carney.

The RCMP have charged a 23-year-old RBC employee for accessing the personal data of Prime Minister Mark Carney, CTV News has confirmed.

Ibrahim El-Hakim, of Ottawa, was arrested in July and has been charged with fraud over $5,000, unauthorized use of a computer, identify theft, and trafficking in identity information.

“According to the investigation, Mr. El-Hakim allegedly used the RBC’s IT services for criminal purposes, including consulting several bank profiles without authorization and participating in fraud,” RCMP spokesperson Erique Gasse wrote in an email to CTV News.

He was released on a promise to appear with conditions, Gasse also said.

RBC spokesperson Cheryl Brean wrote in a statement to CTV News that after the bank “independently identified unauthorized system access,” it “took immediate action to engage authorities.”

“The individual named is no longer employed at the bank,” Brean wrote. “We worked closely with law enforcement to support their investigation.”

The investigation has been assigned to the Integrated National Security Enforcement Team (INSET), according to Gasse, who added the RCMP does not believe there was a threat to public safety or to Carney’s personal safety.

“However, as soon as criminal offences target the Canadian Prime Minister, it is the responsibility of our INSET teams to carry out the investigation,” Gasse wrote.

Gasse said El-Hakim was not previously known to police.

When asked whether he is believed to be part of a criminal organization, Gasse said the RCMP could not provide further details, as it’s part of an ongoing investigation.

El-Hakim had a court appearance on Aug. 6 and is set to appear again on Oct. 1.

With files from CTV News’ Abigail Bimman and Stephanie Ha