Cameron Jay Ortis made a brief court appearance in Ottawa this afternoon on charges of breaching Canada's secrets law while serving with the RCMP.
The 47-year-old has been charged under three sections of the Security of Information Act as well as two Criminal Code provisions for allegedly trying to disclose classified information.
Prosecutor John MacFarlane says it's alleged Ortis obtained, stored and processed sensitive information and it's believed he did so with the intent to communicate it to people that he shouldn't be communicating it to.
McFarlane says he won't be commenting in any more detail at this stage.
Ortis, wearing a blue dress shirt, appeared by video link.
MacFarlane says the Crown would argue at a coming bail proceeding that Ortis should remain in custody.
The charge sheet lists a total of seven counts against Ortis under the various provisions, two of them dating from as early as January 1st, 2015, through to Thursday, when he was arrested.
The R-C-M-P says the charges stem from activities alleged to have occurred during his time as a force employee, suggesting he was active with the Mounties until he was taken into custody yesterday.
However, neither the R-C-M-P nor MacFarlane would clarify his employment status.
The Security of Information Act, ushered in following the 9-11 attacks in the United States, is intended to safeguard sensitive government information.
Naval officer Jeffrey Paul Delisle, who gave classified material to Russia, pleaded guilty to offences under the act in
NEWSTALK 1010 reached out to Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale, who responded with a statement:
Canadians can continue to have confidence in their security and intelligence agencies to protect our safety and rights.
We are unable to comment on this matter as it is before the courts.
Questions should be directed to the RCMP.
A quick search, and we've learned that Ortis taught at the University of British Columbia up until 2012, in the institute of Asian Research. He also holds a PH.D from the same school, with a focus on cyber security in East Asia.
Ortis was working at the RCMP as a top level intelligence official, with a specialization in East Asian cyber security.
NEWSTALK 1010's legal expert, Ed Prutschi says the charges read, to indiucate some sort of network has bene hacked and information leaked, but where and to whom, we don't know.
(With files from Canadian Press)