Canadian embassy in Haiti investigating $1.7M fraud

The Canadian government has fired 17 local recruits from its embassy in Haiti after uncovering a system of fraud that cost the diplomatic mission $1.7 million over12 years, Global Affairs Canada says.

The majority of that staff, 12 people, worked for Global Affairs Canada. The other five worked for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

Global Affairs told Radio-Canada, CBC's French-language service, the investigation began in spring 2015 and uncovered "inadequate practices"at the embassy in Port-au-Prince.

Investigators found the staffers inflated bills, diverted and stole materials and colluded with local suppliersbetween 2004 and 2016.

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Global Affairs said the embassy has stopped dealing with all suppliers implicated in the fraudand an investigation is underway to see if Canadian staff were involved in any way.

No criminal charges have been laid so far.

Global Affairs said the relief efforts related to Hurricane Matthew were not affected.

The department isalso reviewingpractices at embassies in Algeria, Nigeria, Kenya, India and Russia to determine whethersimilar activity hastaken place.