Canada's police officer held over information leak to foreign government

A member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has been apprehended and accused of accessing police records and sharing sensitive details with the Rwandan government.

According to reports from the federal police force released on Tuesday, Constable Eli Ndatuje, stationed in Alberta, was arrested by the integrated national security enforcement team (Inset).

Ndatuje faces charges including breach of trust, unauthorized use of a computer, and breach of trust concerning safeguarded information, which purportedly contravenes the country’s Security of Information Act.

Scheduled to appear in a Calgary court on March 11, Ndatuje has been granted release under conditions requiring him to surrender his passport, remain within the province, and comply with fingerprinting protocols.

Court documents allege that Ndatuje transmitted “safeguarded information on the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) system to a foreign entity, specifically the Republic of Rwanda.”

Born in Uganda with Rwandan heritage, Ndatuje migrated to Canada at the age of 14.

The RCMP, upon learning of the alleged security breach, implemented measures to monitor and prevent further unauthorized disclosures of information, as stated in their press release: “The RCMP is committed to combating foreign actor interference at all levels and is actively leveraging all tools at its disposal.”

Ndatuje is the third RCMP member recently charged under the Security of Information Act. Cameron Ortis, a former top Canadian police intelligence official, was recently sentenced to 14 years in prison for similar offenses. Additionally, William Majcher, a retired RCMP employee, faces charges related to benefiting the People’s Republic of China.

Canada is currently addressing concerns over the influence of foreign nations in its governmental institutions, with leaked intelligence reports suggesting interference attempts by China in Canadian elections. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has acknowledged “credible allegations” linking India to the assassination of a Canadian political activist.

An independent commission is investigating alleged foreign interference in Canadian affairs, signaling a broader scrutiny of international involvement in domestic matters.