Four more TTC employees were fired after an investigation found they had participated in an alleged benefits fraud scheme, the transit commission announced Wednesday.

“Benefits fraud and making inappropriate benefits claims costs the TTC — and ultimately the public — money. And this is something that we, as an employer, take seriously,” TTC spokesperson Brad Ross said.

The dismissals come in the midst of an ongoing investigation into benefits fraud at the TTC.

In July, police charged the owner and two staff members at Healthy Fit for their alleged roles in taking more than $4 million from Manulife Financial through the transit provider’s benefit program. In October, one TTC employee was fired in connection with the alleged fraud, so Wednesday’s news means a total of five transit workers have been dismissed.

The business, which provided “health care products and services to some TTC employees,” allegedly gave receipts to workers when “no product or service was obtained or where receipt amounts were inflated,” according to a TTC release.

TTC insurer Manulife Financial would issue a payment, and Healthy Fit and the claimant would share the cash, according to the transit commission.

“This is being taken extremely seriously,” TTC chair Josh Colle said. “We expect there will be more dismissals.”

Colle said Manulife was “completely lax” and did not exercise proper oversight — “Where were their controls?” He then claimed he was not blaming Manulife, saying, “There’s lots of people who should’ve had better oversight on this. We’re the ones who actually called in the police and (dismissed) people.”

A separate police probe is ongoing, according to Const. Kevin Williams of the force’s financial crimes unit.

“We still have an investigation into the criminal nature of Healthy Fit, and all those who were involved in that side of the scheme,” Williams said in an interview.

Meanwhile, investigators continue the TTC’s internal inquiry, Ross said. The transit commission will demand repayment when an employee is found to have participated in the scheme.

Asked if he expects more staff will be found to have been in on the scheme,Ross responded,“We anticipate that further discipline will follow, yes.”

In an emailed statement, a Manulife spokesperson wrote, “Manulife received information alleging the clinic was involved in the submission of false and misleading claims. Manulife has conducted a lengthy investigation into this clinic the results of which were turned over to Toronto Police Service.”