Canada lays new charges against official accused of leaking secrets

OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canadian prosecutors have laid three new charges against a top police intelligence official who is accused of leaking secret information, a spokeswoman for the federal prosecution service said on Monday.

Cameron Ortis, a director general with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, faces charges under a 2012 security of information law for prosecuting spies. He had access to highly sensitive domestic and foreign intelligence.

The three charges were filed last week under a section of the law that relates to the unauthorised communication of special operational information, Public Prosecution Service of Canada spokeswoman Nathalie Houle said in a statement.

Ortis - who is next due in court on Tuesday - has been in jail since Nov. 8 when an Ontario court revoked his bail. No date has yet been set for his trial.

Canada is a member of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing network alongside the United States, Britain, New Zealand and Australia. Security experts have said the case could damage Canada’s standing in the network.

(Reporting by David Ljunggren; Editing by Marguerita Choy)

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