The RCMP is alleging criminal fraud, theft and laundering the proceeds of crime by top members of the Ontario Provincial Police Association, according to a newsletter sent to OPP officers Thursday.

Three senior Ontario Provincial Police union officials stepped aside Monday, in the wake of an RCMP criminal investigation that involved a raid of the OPPA union headquarters last week.

In a brief internal newsletter to union members on Thursday — and obtained by the Star — the association tells its members that the RCMP are alleging Criminal Code violations including theft, fraud, breach of trust and laundering the proceeds of crime.

“The Association would like to point out that the RCMP investigation is in early stages, and that no charges have been laid,” the OPPA says in the newsletter.

OPPA president Jim Christie, vice-president Martin Bain and chief administrative officer Karl Walsh — who was the provincial Liberal candidate in Barrie during the 2011 election — took voluntary leaves of absence, the union said in a statement earlier this week. Walsh has been placed on administrative leave by the OPPA’s board of directors.

The communiqué also states an internal investigation is being conducted by legal firm of Stikeman Elliott.

“Counsel from Stikeman Elliot is conducting the investigation under the oversight of the Acting CAO, Michael Briscoe.”

There are about 6,200 uniformed and 3,600 civilian members of the OPPA.