Former federal consultant who overbilled government accused of fraud

OTTAWA — A former federal consultant has been charged with fraud for overbilling the government by $250,000.

RCMP say Clara Elaine Visser is facing a charge of fraud over $5,000 following an investigation first launched by Public Services and Procurement Canada three years ago.

RCMP say the charge was laid based on evidence showing the fraudulent time sheets were submitted between January 1, 2020 and June 30, 2021.

Public Services and Procurement Canada says in a separate statement that it notified the mountains last fall after a two-year internal investigation found that one person was working on contract with eight different federal departments using eight different prime contractors.

The person’s security clearance was canceled in June 2021 and fully revoked in September 2023.

Visser is scheduled to appear in court in September.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on July 9, 2024.

The Canadian Press