ArriveCan contractor exec became public servant after project was completed, company says

Dalian Enterprises, one of the contractors that worked on the controversial ArriveCan app, says its president and founder David Yeo only became a public servant after the project was completed.

It was reported last week that Yeo was an employee of the Department of National Defence (DND). He was subsequently suspended pending an investigation.

«Due to the serious nature of the concerns raised, DND is launching an internal investigation into the matter. The individual has been suspended while this investigation is underway. We are in the process of suspending contracts with Dalian,» a department spokesperson told CBC News in an email last week.

But the company told CBC News in an email that Yeo only became a DND employee in September of last year, months after the company had completed its contract on ArriveCan.

«Since Mr. Yeo became an employee of the Department of National Defence, he has not participated in any Dalian proposal, project, contract, venture or other activity relating, directly or indirectly, to the Department of National Defence or any Government of Canada organization,» a statement from the company said.

«He has not had any involvement in the management or operations of Dalian, and he has not had access to Dalian confidential information of any kind.»

Dalian emailed CBC News this week after not responding to earlier requests for more information. Dalian and Yeo declined interview requests from CBC News.

CBC News asked DND for confirmation that Yeo began working for the department in September. A departmental spokesperson declined to comment, citing the ongoing investigation.

Yeo's LinkedIn profile — which has been deleted recently — previously indicated that he had been with DND since 1987. But Dalian said in