Harper: I didn't know of aide's crimes

OTTAWA, April 4 (UPI) -- Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Monday he had no knowledge of a former top aide's fraud record.

Bruce Carson was convicted of five counts of fraud -- three more than previously revealed, Postmedia News reported. The report said Carson had revealed his whole record involving his bank fraud convictions in a background check.

Carson, who worked for Harper from 2006 to 2008, also was ordered to get psychiatric treatment in 1990.

In March, Harper's office asked the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to investigate Carson over reports he was lobbying the government for a company that wants to sell water-treatment units to aboriginal reserves. Carson's fiancee stood to gain from the deal.

"I'm learning these things as well," Harper said Monday. "Let me be very clear about the situation: I knew that Mr. Carson had had difficulties with the law many, many years ago. Some 25 years ago. After that, he had had a good employment record."

"The fact is I did not know about these revelations that we're finding out today. I don't know why I did not know, ..." he added. "Had I know these things, obviously I would not have hired him."