The RCMP has suspended a senior Mountie in charge of human resources, as more details emerge of alleged fraud in the force's pension system.
Deputy Commissioner Barb George had earlier resigned and her job performance is now under a code of conduct review, according to an internal memo.
George could not be reached for comment Friday. But in February, in front of a Parliamentary committee, she was asked about the removal of investigators from the case, including Staff-Sgt. Mike Frizzell.
"It was neither (former RCMP commissioner Giuliano Zaccardelli) nor me who had anything whatsoever to do with the removal of Sgt. Frizzell," said George.
She testified that Frizzell left for "health reasons."
Meanwhile, fellow investigator RCMP Chief Supt. Fraser MacAulay was sent to the Department of Defence for two years. But George called that a simple coincidence.
On Wednesday, MacAulay suggested otherwise when he testified before the commons public accounts committee.
"We had a lengthy conversation on the issues again and she explained to me how na�ve I had to be to think anyone was going to stand beside me in this type of situation, and to tell the truth," he said.
MacAulay also alleged: "For the past few years, the RCMP has had a small group of managers who, through their actions and inactions, are responsible for serious breaches in our core values, the RCMP code of conduct and even the Criminal Code."
Ron Lewis, a retired RCMP staff sergeant, spoke of a "culture" created by several senior executives "where it was a danger for employees to report wrongdoings."
"While trying to expose these wrongdoings, which were both criminal and code of conduct violations, I had face to face meetings and complaints up to and including Commissioner Zaccardelli," alleged Lewis.
"I was met with inaction delays, roadblocks, obstruction and lies. The person who orchestrated most of this cover-up was Commissioner Zaccardelli."
Zaccardelli has denied the allegations.He resigned as RCMP commissioner in December after delivering contradictory testimony to another Commons committee about the Maher Arar affair.
Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day has announced an independent investigation into the allegations, saying he is expecting a public report within eight to 12 weeks.
Â鶹´«Ã½ has learned that the allegations include the following:
Of the 65 people who worked at the pension division, 49 were related to senior RCMP members. In some cases, the nepotism involved entire families.
Senior RCMP members used pension funds for golfing trips to destinations like St. Andrew's-by-the-Sea, N.B.
In one email exchange, resort employees at St. Andrew's-by-the-Sea explained an unusual billing structure:
"The purpose of this is to hide the golf rates in the room rates and to expense the golf," the email reads.
Critics have called for a full judicial inquiry, but Day has countered that would take too long.
"We want answers now, we want answers immediately," he said. "I'm seriously concerned with the information that was presented yesterday at the public accounts committee."
Nevertheless, on Friday, Liberal leader St�phane Dion continued to call for a judicial inquiry.
"The Conservatives want an investigator who is accountable only to Cabinet, so that they can control the process for political gain," Dion said. "But what is needed is a full public inquiry that is transparent and free to get to the bottom of the issue."
MacAulay hopes the controversial allegations won't tarnish the reputation of RCMP members.
"We have 24,000-plus employees that are providing great public safety to this country, and it's a great organization. This is a small blip," he said.
"The key for me is that we stay steadfast and get to the bottom of it and then move forward. We'll be a better organization hopefully down the road, and at the end of the day, this will just be a very painful couple of days."
The complaints about the mismanagement of the pension fund go back to May 2003, when the RCMP launched its own investigations. The scandal then grabbed public attention following a report from the Auditor General's office.
In her November 2006 report, Fraser wrote about fraud and abuse allegations in the management of the RCMP's pension and insurance plans, stemming from 2003.
In June 2005, the Ottawa Police Service announced that its 15-month investigation had found abuses of the pension and insurance plans, nepotism, wasteful spending, and override of controls by management.
No criminal charges have ever been laid in the matter.
With a report by CTV's Graham Richardson in Ottawa
