Canada

An RCMP officer charged with multiple assault and sex-related counts following a child-abuse investigation made a brief court appearance Friday and was remanded in custody to next week.

Clutching a sheaf of papers, he stood slouched and head down, flanked by Ottawa police officers during the short hearing.

The court imposed a sweeping publication ban on the matter and the accused was ordered to have no contact with a list of people, whose names were not disclosed.

The man's wife, who is also charged, is expected in court later today.

In order to protect the identity of the alleged victims, the names of the couple are not being released.

Police say the 41-year-old officer and 34-year-old wife are charged with several counts of aggravated assault, assault with weapon, aggravated sexual assault, forcible confinement and failing to provide the necessaries of life.

They won't say exactly how many children are involved, but say the case involves more than one alleged victim.

A police source says the investigation was launched after an 11-year-old child was discovered wandering in a residential neighbourhood.

And the source says it's believed handcuffs were used to keep the child in the basement of a house for months.