A date of May 1, 2023 is set for the trial of former federal researcher Yantai Gan who was charged with fraud and breach of trust while working at Swift Current, Saskatchewan.
Yantai Gan, a scientist at the Swift Current Research and Development Center of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, was arrested and then released in November 2019 following a 21-month investigation by the National Security Section of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
In December 2021 he was taken into custody for fraud and breach of trust in the performance of his duties as a federal government employee.
According to court documents, Mr. Gan entered into an unauthorized contractual relationship with Gansu Agricultural University, China, and received money.
According to the accusation, Mr. Gan allegedly did not disclose this relationship or the fact of receiving compensation from China to his federal employer.
He is also accused of recruiting and organizing international research collaboration for Gansu Agricultural University.
Former researchers have produced one or more travel or expense claims that are not true in whole or in part.
Yantai Gan is also accused of entering into an unauthorized relationship with Barilla America, a subsidiary of Italy’s largest food producer Barilla.
As part of this, he allegedly received $ 24,000 from Barilla America and failed to notify his employer.
According to the indictment, Mr. Gan also submitted false expense reports to the University of Saskatchewan. He also failed to follow his employer’s code of ethics and he failed to disclose a conflict of interest.
He was charged with public fraud of amounts in excess of $ 5,000 and possession of criminal proceeds of more than $ 5,000.
In 2019, Gan was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada.
The Society describes him as a world -renowned scientist in the field of agroecosystems. His colleagues acknowledge him for inventing a combined suite of legume-based agricultural technologies.
Radio Canada
Source: Radio-Canada
