A member of the RCMP has been apprehended and accused of obtaining police records and sharing them with the government of Rwanda.
On Tuesday, the federal police announced that Constable Eli Ndatuje, who was stationed in Alberta, had been apprehended by their integrated national security enforcement team (Inset).
Ndatuje is facing charges of violating the Security of Information Act, including breach of trust and unauthorized use of a computer, for allegedly mishandling safeguarded information.
He is scheduled to show up in a Calgary court on March 11th. Although he has been released, he must give up his passport, remain within the province, and undergo fingerprinting.
Per court records, Ndatuje has been charged with disclosing “classified data from the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) to a foreign party, specifically the Republic of Rwanda.”
Ndatuje was born in Uganda but has Rwandan heritage. He relocated to Canada at the age of 14.
After being informed of the reported security breach, the RCMP implemented measures to supervise and stop any additional unauthorized sharing of information.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has made a strong commitment to addressing foreign interference and is utilizing all available resources to do so. According to their press release, foreign interference can manifest in various ways and it is crucial for all organizations to be vigilant of its potential consequences.
Ndatuje is the third member of the RCMP to have been recently charged under the Security of Information Act. Last week, a former top Canadian police intelligence official, Cameron Ortis, was sentenced to 14 years in jail for leaking secret information.
During the summer, authorities arrested William Majcher, a former employee of the RCMP, and charged him with two violations of the Security of Information Act. It is alleged that he utilized his expertise and connections in Canada to gather intelligence or provide services for the benefit of China. Majcher was released on bail and has not yet entered a plea.
Canada is currently facing a situation where it must address the extent and impact of foreign nations on its governmental organizations. Recently, confidential intelligence reports have indicated that China has made efforts to interfere with Canada’s electoral processes.
In September, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated that there were “believable accusations” connecting India to the murder of a political activist in Canada.
A non-partisan committee is examining potential foreign influence in matters concerning Canada.
Source: theguardian.com
