Title: Former RBC Employee Accused of Defrauding Bank of $68,500

OTTAWA — A former employee of the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) is facing serious charges after allegedly defrauding the bank of $68,500. Ibrahim El-Hakim, who is accused of accessing Prime Minister Mark Carney’s banking profile, did not appear in court on Wednesday. His lawyer, Ron Guertin, stated that they are still waiting for some evidence from the Crown.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) formally charged El-Hakim with four offenses: fraud over $5,000, unauthorized use of a computer, identity theft, and trafficking in identity information. These alleged crimes are believed to have occurred between November 16, 2023, and June 18, 2025.

El-Hakim, 23, was hired in 2022 as a client advisor at the RBC branch on Bank Street, near Parliament Hill. His responsibilities included accessing customer files, creating bank accounts, and approving lines of credit.

According to a police affidavit, El-Hakim admitted to being contacted by someone using the alias "AI WORLD" on Telegram, a messaging platform often used for illicit activities. He reportedly received instructions to approve lines of credit or process credit card applications for fraudulent identities, earning $500 for each transaction, totaling $5,000.

The affidavit also indicates that El-Hakim accessed confidential banking profiles, including that of Carney and another individual named "Justin Trudeau," who is not believed to be the former prime minister. The charges filed on October 1 suggest that El-Hakim possessed personal information with the intent to distribute or sell it for fraudulent purposes. However, the RCMP has not confirmed whether the charges are directly related to Carney’s personal information.

El-Hakim’s lawyer expressed concerns that the media has sensationalized the case due to its connection to the prime minister. The next court appearance for El-Hakim is scheduled for November 5.