The RCMP has suspended the head of its human resources department amid allegations she misled a parliamentary committee in testimony last month.

Deputy Commissioner Barbara George, a 29-year veteran of the force, told the committee that she and former commissioner Giuliano Zaccardelli had nothing to do with removing officers who were investigating alleged misuse of RCMP pension and insurance plans.

The RCMP has suspended Deputy Commissioner Barbara George as the head of its human resources department.
(CBC)

Liberal MP Borys Wrzesnewskyj, a member of the public accounts committee, told the Globe and Mail newspaper that recent e-mails contradict George's characterization of the events.

Wrzesnewskyj has called for a public inquiry into what he calls a "culture of corruption" in senior RCMP ranks.

A group of four Mounties went public before the committee on Wednesday with accusations of fraud and abuse in the management of the RCMP pension and insurance plans.

They alleged that senior Mounties, including Zaccardelli, tried to thwart an investigation into the handling of the plans.

Retired RCMP staff sergeant Ron Lewis told MPs that Zaccardelli "orchestrated most of this coverup," a charge Zaccardelli has denied.

Earlier in the week, the Mounties' acting commissioner, Beverley Busson, announced that George had stepped down as head of RCMP human resources and had decided to go on educational leave.

George's lawyer, Bruce Carr-Harris, told the Globe that his client's suspension was unnecessary and was likely related to the current media firestorm.

"There is nothing to them," he said of the allegations.

George will continue to receive her salary while she awaits the results of a code-of-conduct investigation.