Civil servant leaked data to criminal brother

THE Data Protection Commissioner is to launch an audit into data security in the Department of Social and Family Affairs after it emerged that a civil servant had passed on confidential information to his brother, who later used it for criminal purposes.

The commissioner, Billy Hawkes, contacted senior officials at the department expressing his serious concern yesterday following reports that a man who worked in the department’s data protection section passed on secret information to his brother.

The brother later used the details to burgle one man and to attempt to extort money from three other businessmen.