A former City of Ottawa employee and a landlord accused of participating in a kickback scheme that impacted city housing programs are set to stand trial in the Superior Court of Justice in June.
Charges and Allegations
Kim Simon, 55, and Sandeep Aggerwal, 56, face charges of accepting a bribe, breach of trust, and fraud. The charges stem from an investigation by the city's auditor general, Nathalie Gougeon, which was referred to Ottawa police in May 2025. Aggerwal is additionally charged with bribing a municipal employee, as well as joint charges of breach of trust and fraud over $5,000.
Auditor General's Report
The auditor general's report, first presented to the city's audit committee in December 2024, alleged that a former city case worker received kickbacks from landlords in exchange for favorable rental rates under city housing programs. The report identified the landlord as an individual overseeing two corporations. The allegations were initially reported through the city's fraud and waste hotline, with the tipster accusing the employee of receiving kickback payments from a group of landlords for favorable rental rates in specific housing benefit programs.
Gougeon stated that she promptly informed city managers, the city solicitor, and Ottawa police after receiving the tip and initiated a preliminary investigation. The report alleged that kickback payments began in January 2024, but landlords had received favorable rates since October 2023. Investigators, including forensic specialists from Ernst and Young LLP, found records of $22,000 in payments from a landlord to the employee between November 14, 2023, and October 1, 2024.
Evidence and Impact
Banking records and data from the employee's personal devices revealed messages indicating that payments were intended to leverage the employee's position for financial benefit to the landlord. The employee was fired between October and December 2024. City management agreed to halt all business with the landlord in December 2024. The report identified 31 affected tenants with rental relationships with the landlord, citing multiple instances where the housing case worker assisted clients in leasing units that significantly exceeded market value.
None of the allegations have been tested in court. Simon and Aggerwal are scheduled for a judge-alone trial in the Superior Court of Justice in Ottawa on June 9.
