The ex-leader of the intelligence division of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police has been given a 14-year jail sentence, following a conviction for disclosing classified information.
On Wednesday, Justice Robert Maranger gave a sentence that he deemed to be appropriate and fair, following a jury’s conviction of Cameron Ortis for breaking the Security of Information Act in the country.
In November, the jury convicted Ortis of three charges of breaking the law and one charge of attempting to do so. They also found him guilty of breaching trust and misusing a computer. These charges stemmed from a major security breach in Canada, which raised concerns among its Five Eyes partners.
Ortis, aged 51, denied all charges brought against him.
The crown prosecutors, who requested a 28-year sentence, stated that Ortis had put the safety of Canadians at risk.
In 2019, Ortis, who was the leader of the RCMP’s intelligence division, was taken into custody following an extensive internal inquiry. This arrest caused significant surprise and concern within the intelligence community.
In the previous year, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) began investigating Ortis after examining a laptop belonging to Vincent Ramos. Ramos was the CEO of Phantom Secure Communications, a company that supplied encrypted smartphones to organized crime groups to avoid detection by law enforcement. Ramos eventually admitted to using these devices to aid in the trafficking of illegal drugs, including cocaine, to various countries, including Canada.
During his court case, Ortis claimed that he provided confidential information to specific individuals in order to persuade them to utilize online encryption services that would share data with allied intelligence agencies. He also testified that his actions were in efforts to safeguard the country from an undisclosed danger, and that his life has been ruined since his detainment.
However, the jury ultimately agreed with the prosecution’s argument that Ortis had acted in his own personal interest.
The highly monitored lawsuit also revealed the difficulties of defending oneself against accusations of stealing confidential government information: journalists were not allowed to report on most of the trial, and certain parts of witness statements and evidence were not disclosed to the public. Instead, the court released heavily edited versions of the transcripts. Ortis’s attorney had mentioned previously that his client was the “first Canadian to be compelled to testify in their own defense without being able to fully communicate with the jury.”
During Ortis’s sentencing, the defense presented 26 letters of endorsement, including one from Michael Spavor, the Canadian diplomat who was incarcerated in a Chinese prison for nearly three years.
Amidst the turbulent political climate affecting our nation, Spavor expressed the need for individuals like Cameron Ortis to dedicate themselves to serving and safeguarding Canada. The magnitude of our current challenges means that we cannot overlook the valuable skills and dedication that Ortis possesses. He requires our understanding and support, while his hard work is crucial to our country.
Ortis has been in prison for three years while awaiting trial, and has spent an additional year on house arrest. This gives him a credit of seven years towards his pre-trial custody. Justice Maranger has ruled that he can serve the remaining seven years of his sentence close to his home in British Columbia. Ortis’s lawyer expressed that the sentence was severe and his client is disappointed, but they plan to appeal and request bail.
Source: theguardian.com
