A former employee of the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) has been charged with defrauding the bank of $68,500 and unauthorized access to sensitive banking information, including that of Prime Minister Mark Carney. Ibrahim El-Hakim, 23, from Ottawa, did not appear in court in Ontario last Wednesday as expected. His attorney, Ron Guertin, stated that he is awaiting additional evidence from the Crown before moving forward with the case.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) formally laid charges against El-Hakim, which include four counts of fraud over $5,000, unauthorized use of a computer, identity theft, and trafficking in identity information. The alleged offenses took place between November 16, 2023, and June 18, 2025.

El-Hakim was employed by RBC in 2022 as a client advisor at the Bank Street branch in downtown Ottawa, close to Parliament Hill. His responsibilities included accessing customer files, creating new accounts, and approving lines of credit. According to an RCMP affidavit, El-Hakim admitted to being contacted by an individual using the alias "AI WORLD" on Telegram, a messaging app often associated with criminal activities. The affidavit claims that he was directed to approve fraudulent credit applications and was compensated $500 for each transaction, totaling approximately $5,000.

Investigators allege that El-Hakim used his access to view confidential client profiles, including Carney's banking information. The affidavit also mentions that he accessed an account under the name "Justin Trudeau," although police have indicated that this account does not belong to the former prime minister.

The RCMP's formal charging documents suggest that El-Hakim possessed and may have distributed or sold personal information, aware that it could be used for fraudulent purposes. The documents detail a loss of $68,500 to RBC due to his actions. However, the RCMP has not confirmed whether any charges are directly linked to the unauthorized access of Carney's personal information.

El-Hakim's lawyer remarked that the case has been "sensationalized" due to its connection to the prime minister, emphasizing that it involves allegations of internal misconduct at a bank rather than a national security matter. The RCMP has refrained from commenting on the investigation's specifics, citing the ongoing court proceedings. RBC has also declined to provide details but stated that it fully cooperates with law enforcement and prioritizes the protection of client information.

El-Hakim is currently free under certain conditions while awaiting trial. The case is set to return to court on November 5.