CHRONOLOGY: Key dates in Nortel's accounting scandal

TORONTO (Reuters) - Police laid fraud-related criminal charges against a number of former Nortel Networks Corp executives including former CEO Frank Dunn.

The charges relate to an accounting scandal that hit the telecom equipment maker in 2004 and led to numerous earnings restatements.

Here are some key dates in the scandal:

October 23, 2003 - Nortel reports a quarterly profit, but says it will restate results going back to 2000.

November 19 - The restatement reduces losses for the period between 2000 and mid-2003 by $505 million.

January 29, 2004 - Nortel posts its first annual profit since 1997 with net earnings of $732 million.

March 10 - Nortel says it will likely restate results for a second time and delay filing its 2003 annual report to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

March 15 - Nortel puts its chief financial officer and controller on paid leave.

April 5 - The SEC launches a formal investigation.