It is a common practice for police officers to share passwords to access the corp's computer system, it was revealed in court today.
Inspector Jonathan Ransley was testifying during the compilation of evidence against Leroy Balzan Engerer, 31, a suspended police sergeant who stands accused of deleting parts of an incident report on the Gzira shooting involving the former Home Affairs' minister driver Paul Sheehan. Balzan Engerer has been indicted of charges brought against him.
During interrogation, Balzan Engerer claimed that a few weeks before the incident, he had given his password to a new recruit who was stationed at a police station in the sixth district. He admitted to having logged into the report after he was contacted by a police officer from the Media Relations Unit (CMRU) who requested information on the detainee list.
During cross examination, Inspector Ransley said that new police appointees often lack a password to the system, and because they have the same roles as other police officers, they do sometimes ask their colleagues to access the system using their password. Asked by the prosecution whether he is aware that this is a crime that should be reported, Inspector Ransley said he is.
Taking the stand, Inspector Jesmond Micallef said that an investigation was launched by the police after it was noted that the report of the incident was missing the first four paragraphs. An audit report revealed that the deletion of parts of the report took place precisely at 13:49:53. The system was last logged into at 13:20 through Balzan Engerer's login name and password.
On December 4, Balzan Engerer was again interrogated, and he reiterated that he logged in to provide information for CMRU. Asked why he chose to highlight parts of report, Balzan replied that he did this to create contrast for information provided to media relations unit. He also claimed that he never passed on any information to any journalists.
The court was also presented with copies of video footage that show a police officer leaving the station and walking towards the post office at 13:24 Balzan lives a stone throw away from the police station, and close to the post office. Inspector Micallef said that Balzan Engerer has a particular walk which he noticed is similar to the one caught on camera. He stressed that the footage, however, does not show the sergeant's face or PC number on the uniform.
Defence lawyer Dr Franco Debono asked whether the video footage is compatible with the version provided during interrogation, to which Inspector Micallef replied that it is. Questioned whether police officers share passwords, the inspector said he is unaware of such practices.
Balzan Engerer, 31, from Sliema, is pleading not guilty to computer misuse, preventing the input of data, changing, deleting or adding official data, revealing a password to give access to official files to unauthorized personnel, committing crimes damaging to the government, prejudicing his senior and committing a crime he was duty bound to prevent.
Magistrate Doreen Clarke presided.
The case has been adjourned to February 4