BRADFORD, Ont. -- A South Simcoe Police Service officer has been charged with fraud following an investigation into employee benefits claims.

The investigation began three months ago, and charges were laid against the officer and his wife on Monday.

Const. Lui Giordano, 52, and Katherine Giordano, 53, are charged with fraud over $5,000, forgery and utter forged documents, and are scheduled to appear in Barrie court on March 23.

Giordano, a 17-year veteran of the police service, has been suspended with pay.