Former Winnipeg police officer found guilty of snooping into relatives' health records

A former Manitoba Health employeewas found guilty of snooping into the private health records of 13 relatives.

The man, who worked as an auditor and risk analyst for the provincial department until 2014, was charged in April 2016 with one criminal charge under the Personal Health Information Act.

Before working for Manitoba Health, the man hadalso been a Winnipeg police officer.

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The criminal charge was the first of its kind under the Personal Health Information Act andcarries a maximum potential fine of $50,000. It was filed bythe Manitobaombudsman after an investigation that started in November 2014.

The unauthorized access prompted the province to review and update its policies around the act to boost accountability and createmore ways to monitor whether employees are following the rules.

On Wednesday, Judge Cynthia Devinefound the man guilty of violating a section of the act prohibiting provincial employees and officers from using, accessing or attempting to access somebody else'spersonal health information.

He'll be sentenced on June 21.