Cameron Jay Ortis found guilty of breaching Canada’s security laws and attempting to disclose classified information

A senior intelligence officer from Canada’s national police force has been convicted of violating the country’s security laws. On Wednesday, a jury delivered a guilty verdict against Cameron Jay Ortis, 51, on multiple charges related to breaching the Security of Information Act. He was found guilty of three counts of disclosing classified information and one count of attempting to do so.

In addition, Ortis was convicted of breach of trust and fraudulent use of a computer, marking a significant legal decision in a case that has raised concerns over national security. The former RCMP official had denied all charges, which included accusations that he revealed sensitive material to three individuals in 2015 and sought to leak information to a fourth party.

Ortis testified that he had shared confidential data to encourage targets to adopt an encrypted communication system provided by a foreign intelligence agency, which he believed would aid in spying on adversaries. However, the prosecution contended that Ortis lacked the necessary clearance to disclose such material and was not authorised to undertake these actions as part of any official undercover operation.

The case highlights serious concerns about the protection of national secrets and the accountability of individuals with access to sensitive government information.