Ex-RBC employee charged with fraud, identity theft for accessing Mark Carney’s personal data

OTTAWA — The RCMP arrested a former Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) employee over the summer after he allegedly accessed Prime Minister Mark Carney’s personal data.

The federal police force confirmed on Wednesday that Ibrahim El-Hakim, a 23-year-old man living in Ottawa, has been charged with fraud over $5,000, an unauthorized use of his work computer, identity theft and trafficking in identity information.

News of the fraud was first revealed by Quebec media outlets, which accessed court documents in Montreal. National Post has not independently viewed these documents.

Cheryl Brean, director of communications of personal and commercial banking at RBC, said that the bank “independently identified unauthorized system access” and “took immediate action to engage authorities.” She said El-Hakim is no longer an employee.

The Mounties opened an investigation in early July 2025 following a complaint from RBC.

The findings showed that El-Hakim allegedly used the bank’s IT services for “criminal purposes, including consulting several bank profiles without authorization and participating in fraud,” RCMP Corporal Erique Gasse wrote in an email.

“Mr. El-Hakim is believed to have accessed, among other things, the personal data of Prime Minister Mark Carney,” said Gasse.

The RCMP spokesperson said El-Hakim was arrested on July 10, 2025, and released on a promise to appear with conditions. El-Hakim appeared at the Ottawa courthouse on Aug. 6, 2025, and is set to appear again on Oct. 1, 2025, in Ottawa, he said.

Gasse said further charges may be laid against the former RBC employee.

The investigation is being led by the Integrated National Security Enforcement Team (INSET), composed of specially trained members of the RCMP and other law enforcement partners, in Montreal because it involves the Prime Minister of Canada, he added.

“Our investigation did not lead us to believe there was any threat to the prime minister’s safety or to national security in this case,” said Gasse.

RBC said it is working closely with law enforcement to support their investigation, something that the RCMP has confirmed.

The RCMP said that El-Hakim was not known to the police, but was unwilling to say at this time if he was part of a criminal organization.

“As the investigation is still ongoing, we cannot provide further details,” said Gasse.

The Prime Minister’s Office declined to provide any comment, referring the matter to the RCMP.

National Post calevesque@postmedia.com

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