A federal government consultant has been charged with fraud by the RCMP after an investigation revealed alleged overbilling of the Government of Canada by an estimated $250,000.
Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) initiated an investigation in the summer of 2021 into a consultant who was contracted by eight different government departments and Crown corporations. The consultant is accused of submitting fraudulent timesheets between January 1, 2020, and June 30, 2021. The case was subsequently referred to the RCMP for a criminal investigation.
The RCMP’s Sensitive and International Investigations Unit (SII) took up the case and confirmed through statements from prime contractors and examination of timesheets that the consultant had indeed overbilled the government.
As a result, Clara Elaine Visser, 63, has been charged with fraud over $5,000, under Section 380(1) of the Criminal Code. Visser is scheduled to appear in court on September 6, 2024, at the Ottawa Courthouse.
“The Government of Canada is committed to taking action against improper, unethical, and illegal business practices. We hold individuals and companies accountable for their misconduct while protecting federal expenditures,” said Catherine Poulin, Assistant Deputy Minister, Department of Oversight Branch, PSPC. She thanked the RCMP for their thorough investigation.
Supt. Jeremie Landry, Officer in Charge of the SII Unit, highlighted the importance of the collaboration between the RCMP and PSPC. “This investigation demonstrates that we are committed to keeping our nation safe by protecting the integrity of the federal government and preventing the abuse of taxpayers’ dollars,” Landry said.
The SII unit is responsible for investigating sensitive and international crimes that threaten Canada’s interests, including those targeting government institutions, public officials, and the integrity of the Crown.
