The Kamloops, British Columbia RCMP officers, who were watching two female inmates having sex in a cell, after the women had been imprisoned for public intoxication, are under investigation. Three of four RCMP officers and three civilian prison guards were suspended this week.

They were watching the two intoxicated women having sex in a jail cell over a closed-circuit video monitor. The video not only shows what happened in the cell but clearly shows who and where the RCMP was watching the act.

Some might have been looking for the video online on the Internet already; however, it looks like it is not going to be possible. The RCMP has locked the video away and only a provincial court judge could make them release the videotape. The videotape is now part of a criminal investigation. Media were also interested in seeing the tape but Insp. Tim Shields from the RCMP says that giving the tape to the public is not going to happen. The RCMP has no intention of releasing it to the media. There is no doubt why. The RCMP has experienced enough embarrassment already.

However, there is a possibility that some employee could have made a copy of the videotape and the RCMP admits it. In this case, the RCMP says, the leaked evidence would lead to serious criminal charges of the person who did it. The RCMP is very careful now and sends a warning message to anyone who may, or could in the future, release a possible copy. Shields said: "It would be a criminal offence and we would vigorously, quickly and very aggressively pursue that angle and we would charge that employee."

Jana Paskova

Photo: ISIFA