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Monday, February 14, 2011

Australia - Police charged over private data leaks....

OFF THE WIRE
Nigel Hunt
 adelaidenow.com.au
computer
Confidential information was allegedly obtained from police files Source: AdelaideNow

TWO serving police and a former officer have been arrested and charged in a corruption probe.
The secret Anti-Corruption Branch operation also has resulted in the arrest of a commercial agent who was allegedly using confidential information obtained from police files to locate members of the public - in many cases to repossess their cars and recover debts.
The operation has been under way since last June, with several detectives seconded to ACB from Local Service Areas because of its scope.
Senior police have refused to comment on the operation but sources said the racket was the largest uncovered since three detectives were charged after they were caught selling information from police computers to high-profile private investigator Frank Carbone in 1995.
"The extent of this activity has raised more than a few eyebrows internally," the source said.
"While this group appears to have been fairly contained, its extent is still a concern in the current political climate."
It is understood while all of those involved in the alleged corrupt activity with the commercial agent have been detected, a number of "offshoot" investigations have begun as a result of evidence gathered from several sources during the operation and further arrests are possible.
Police moved against the alleged ringleader in the racket last July when Port Pirie police officer David Barry Hawkins was suspended from duty.
He resigned from SAPOL in late October and on December 9 was arrested and charged with 79 corruption-related offences. He is facing 42 counts of abuse of public office and 37 counts of unlawful operation of restricted-access computer systems.
The charges relate to his alleged illegal activities between February 1, 2008 and December 3, 2009.
Hawkins, 37, appeared in Adelaide Magistrates Court on Wednesday and was remanded to appear again in May.
On December 20, detectives arrested commercial agent Heath Lee Boyle. He has been charged with 44 counts of aid and abet abuse of public office. He appeared in Adelaide Magistrates Court on January 28 and was remanded on continuing bail to appear again in May.
Court documents state Boyle, 33, "aided, abetted, counselled or procured David Barry Hawkins to commit an offence, namely abuse of public office" between February 1, 2008 and December 3, 2009.
Following those two arrests detectives continued investigations, which included intensive analysis of several computers seized during the operation, and on January 19 detectives arrested and charged a 39-year-old police officer from the northern suburbs.
The traffic patrol officer faces one count of abuse of public office.
On January 25 detectives charged a 46-year-old police officer from the eastern suburbs with 44 counts of abuse of public office. The detective was on secondment to the Australian Federal Police but his contract has now been terminated.
Both officers have been suspended from duty and will appear in Adelaide Magistrates Court on March 2.
huntn@sundaymail.com.au