Senior RCMP civilian arrested
Ortis charged with seven secrecy offences
The RCMP has charged one of its own with several offences under Canada’s official-secrets law.
The national police force said Friday the charges stem from activities alleged to have occurred during Cameron Jay Ortis’s tenure as an RCMP employee, and it was not immediately clear whether he was still employed by the force.
Ortis, 47, made a brief court appearance in Ottawa court on Friday afternoon.
He will be held in custody pending a bail hearing on federal secrecy charges under the Security of Information Act alleging he shared “special operational information,” and two Criminal Code offences including breach of trust and forgery.
Ortis said little apart from his name and that he understood the charges against him in his first appearance Friday as federal prosecutors sought to keep him in custody while he retains a lawyer. He was represented by an assigned duty counsel Friday as he appeared from the Elgin Street courthouse cell block.
Federal Crown prosecutor John Macfarlane said Ortis was arrested Thursday, and that the Crown will argue he should remain in custody at his upcoming Sept. 20 bail hearing.
Ortis faces seven total charges, including five federal secrecy charges.
Macfarlane would not elaborate on the charges outside court Friday, and said any facts that emerge through a bail hearing will likely be placed under publication ban.
“The allegations are he obtained, stored and processed sensitive information, the Crown believes with the intent to communicate that information to people he shouldn’t be communicating to,” Macfarlane said.
The RCMP laid five charges under the Security of Information Act, alleging that Ortis:
between Feb. 1, 2015 and May 2015, “being a person permanently bound to secrecy… did intentionally and without authority communicate special operational information…”
between Sept. 2018 and Sept. 12, 2019, “gain access to information… obtain and retain… information specifically directed towards or specifically done in preparation of the commission of (the) offences…”
between Sept. 2018 and Sept. 12, 2019, “possess a device apparatus or software useful for concealing the content of information or surreptitiously communicating, obtaining or retaining information…”
He faces two additional charges under the Criminal Code, as authorities allege Ortis fraudulently obtained a computer service between January 1, 2015, and Sept. 12, 2018, and that Ortis, “being an official did commit breach of trust in connection with the duties of his office.”
The RCMP said in an official release the charges stem from activities alleged to have occurred during his tenure as an RCMP employee, and it was not immediately clear whether Ortis was still employed by the force.
Macfarlane would not confirm any further details outside court.
As the investigation is ongoing, the RCMP declined to make further comment.
Ortis will next appear Sept., 20 while he seeks to retain a lawyer.