A second chance to give back to the nation
Following a hearing at Dorchester Penitentiary in New Brunswick on August 21, 2018, the Parole Board of Canada made a conditional temporary release decision regarding jailed former Canadian junior navy officer Jeffrey Paul Delisle who had been sentenced in 2013 to 20 years in prison for providing highly classified military information to the Russians.
As reported, in 2007, Jeffrey Delisle himself initiated contact with the Russian embassy in Ottawa, having offered to sell Canadian military secrets to the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. According to him, his motives were not financial and should be perceived as “career suicide” as a result of his emotional turmoil caused by his wife’s adultery and their following divorce. Meanwhile, the former officer was only caught in January 2012, having advanced in transmitting reports from Canadian intelligence databases to the Russian side in exchange for $3,000 a month on average. Jeffrey Delisle also extensively shared information obtained from the U.S.A., the U.K. and Australia, i.e. members of a so-called Five Eyes intelligence community. The full amount he received during those years assesses at nearly $111,817. As cited by The Canadian Press, the ruling of the Parole Board of Canada said that Jeffrey Delisle had started making full restitution.
“Delisle has since learned to focus more on himself, and less on blaming his ex-wife for his crimes.”
The parole is considered as a temporary measure for a six-month period, taking effect in September if there is a vacancy at the unspecified halfway house. The former naval intelligence officer will live under direct supervision by a parole officer, reporting back to the facility every night. The location of the halfway house won’t be revealed.
But, in fact, he has already been allowed to take escorted leaves from prison, including 24 absences to attend church and several temporary leaves to renew his driver’s license and open a bank account.
