Former federal tax centre employee charged with fraud

A former federal tax centre employee in St. John'shas been charged with fraud. Seventeen charges were laid Friday in an alleged decade-long tax scam.

Kurt Fagan, 51, of Mount Pearl,was fired in December. He hadworkedat the tax centre for more than 20 years.

The Canada Revenue Agency believes he pocketed about $688,000 over 10 years.

An investigation found that tax returns were being reassessed and fraudulent benefits for things like moving expenses, GST credits and child tax benefits were being added. It's alleged that Fagan kept the money from the fraudulent claims.

Fagan was suspended without pay by the Canada Revenue Agency a year ago.The agency saystax returns for more than 100 people were accessed improperly.

One taxpayer lost a small amount of money but it has been returned. The Canada Revenue Agency won't say if any of the money Fagan is alleged to have taken was recovered.

Fagan has been charged with one count of fraud over $5,000. He has also been charged under the Income Tax Act with tax evasion, making false statements and filing false income tax claims.

He's scheduled to appear in a St. John's provincial courtroom inAugust.