Canada

Photo: The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

Sub-Lt. Jeffrey Paul Delisle arrives at Nova Scotia provincial court for a sentencing hearing in Halifax on Friday, Feb. 1, 2013. Delisle, convicted of selling military secrets to Russia, becomes the first person to be sentenced under Canada's Security of Information Act. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

The Crown is seeking a sentence of at least 20 years in prison for Sub-Lt. Jeffrey Paul Delisle, who has pleaded guilty to selling military secrets to Russia.

In closing arguments at Delisle's sentencing hearing today, Lyne Decarie said the Halifax navy officer abused the trust of his family, colleagues, Canada's allies and "ordinary Canadians."

Decarie argued that Delisle should be sentenced to five years in prison for breach of trust and 20 years for communicating information to a foreign entity that could harm Canada's interests, both of which would be concurrent.

She said she will leave it to the judge's discretion whether to sentence Delisle further for the second count of communicating information to a foreign entity.

That charge relates to secrets that Delisle tried to send to the Russians though they were intercepted by police.

In an agreed statement of facts presented to the provincial court, Delisle admits that he accepted nearly $72,000 in exchange for selling secrets to Russia for nearly five years.

He is the first person to be sentenced under Canada's Security of Information Act, which was passed after the Sept. 11 attacks.

Delisle joined the navy as a reservist in 1996, became a member of the regular forces in 2001 and was promoted to an officer rank in 2008.