The Crown is advocating for a 28-year prison sentence for Cameron Ortis, the former RCMP intelligence official convicted of leaking secrets.
The prosecution argues that this lengthy sentence is fitting for someone who betrayed the country, jeopardizing national security by leaking sensitive information to police targets. Crown prosecutor Judy Kliewer emphasized that Ortis’s actions not only betrayed the RCMP but also compromised the Five Eyes alliance, Canada’s international intelligence partners.
Ortis, found guilty on all six charges, including violating Canada’s secrets act, utilized his position within the RCMP to leak special operational information without authorization.
The leaks went to individuals such as Phantom Secure CEO Vincent Ramos, associated with organized crime, and suspected money-laundering agents Salim Henareh and Muhammad Ashraf.
The Crown proposes consecutive sentences of 14 years each for communicating with Ramos and sharing information with the money-laundering targets, while suggesting concurrent sentences for breach of trust and unauthorized use of a computer.
The Crown contends that a lenient sentence would send a message to allies that Canada cannot protect their sensitive information, emphasizing the importance of honoring commitments within the Five Eyes alliance.
Kliewer urged the judge to consider Ortis’s proactive offer of information that could have endangered an undercover RCMP officer, describing it as “egregious.”
In contrast, the defense argues for no additional time served, highlighting Ortis’s hardships during the three years leading up to his trial. Defence lawyer Jon Doody cited health concerns due to repeated X-ray scans and emphasized Ortis’s loss of assets, as Canadian banks refuse to do business with him.
The defense submitted over two dozen support letters, including one from Michael Kovrig, a Canadian detained in China, expressing the belief that Ortis shouldn’t face a lengthy prison term for the sake of deterrence.
The sentencing is set for February 7, with Ortis previously claiming during the trial that he acted to protect Canada from a “grave threat” reported by a foreign entity.
The trial, the first to test charges under the Security of Information Act, was described as “walking on eggshells” due to national security concerns. Ortis was granted bail in late 2022 but had it revoked after the guilty verdict.
The defense hints at plans to appeal, alleging unfairness in defending Ortis without disclosing certain information. The RCMP acknowledged mistakes in Ortis’s case and implemented new security measures, including training on detecting insider threats and a security event reporting tool.
