Canadian Bank Employee Charged With Fraud For Unauthorised Viewing Of PM Carney's Accounts

A 23-year-old employee of Canada’s largest bank has been charged with fraud for allegedly accessing Prime Minister Mark Carney’s personal accounts without authorisation, Canadian police said on Wednesday.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) confirmed that the individual, based in Ottawa, is also facing charges of unauthorised use of a computer, identity theft, and other related offences.

The charges come after a complaint was filed by the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) over suspicious account access.

According to RCMP spokesperson Erique Gasse, the accused “allegedly consulted the personal data of Prime Minister Mark Carney” without approval.

However, investigators currently do not believe the incident posed any threat to national security or to the prime

minister’s personal safety, Gasse said.

In a statement to AFP, RBC spokesperson Cheryl Brean said the bank “took immediate action” as soon as the suspicious behaviour was detected. She confirmed that “the individual is no longer employed at the bank.”

Mark Carney, a former investment banker with Goldman Sachs, has held high-profile roles including governor of the central banks of both Canada and the UK. He entered politics in January and is currently serving as prime minister.

Earlier this year, during a closely watched election campaign, Carney faced repeated calls from opposition leaders to reveal details about his personal financial holdings. He responded by stating that all his assets had been placed in a blind trust, in line with Canada’s ethics regulations.

(With inputs from AFP)