Police Charge Hacker Of Francis Abbotts Files

[lightningdance]

A SYDNEY woman faces up to two years’ jail after being charged over computer hacking that led to student records about a $60,000 scholarship granted to Tony ­Abbott’s daughter being leaked to the online magazine New Matilda.

NSW police have charged Freya Newman, a 21-year-old communications student from the University of Technology, Sydney, with unauthorised access to restricted data held in a computer.

Ms Newman was served with a court attendance notice at her home on Monday night to appear on the charge before a magistrate next month.

Police involvement follows a complaint by management of the Whitehouse Institute of Design that its computer system was hacked on May 20, a day before New Matilda published an article claiming it had documents contradicting assurances by the Prime Minister that one of his daughters received a scholarship based on merit.

The New Matilda article prompted controversy over the selection process used to award a scholarship to Frances Abbott, and the magazine has criticised the Prime Minister for not declaring the grant on his register of interests.

NSW police pursued the institute’s complaint with a criminal investigation that concluded with the charge against Ms Newman under section 308H of the NSW Crimes Act, an offence carrying a maximum of two years in jail.

During the police investigation, the Whitehouse Institute handed over CCTV footage and email evidence that allegedly identified Ms Newman, who was working as a part-time night ­librarian for the institute in May when computer files were ­accessed.

It has been alleged Ms Newman gained unauthorised access to the files of Ms Abbott and more than 500 other students.

New Matilda editor Chris Graham lauded the “brave sources” who provided his publication with leaked information in a comment piece published on Monday.

[nero_bolt]

Student Freya Newman pleads guilty to hacking Frances Abbott design scholarship files 

 SYDNEY student accused of hacking into computer records related to a $60,000 scholarship awarded to Tony Abbott’s daughter Frances has pleaded guilty to the charge and will be sentenced next month.

Freya Newman, a 21-year-old communications student from the University of Technology, Sydney, appeared in Sydney’s Downing Centre court this morning accompanied by her family.

She has been charged with unauthorised access to restricted data held in a computer at the Whitehouse Institute of Design on May 20.

She will be sentenced on October 23 and faces up to two years in jail.

Information obtained from the computer system was allegedly leaked to online magazine New Matilda.

The site published an article the day after the alleged hacking occurred, claiming it had documents contradicting assurances by the Prime Minister that one of his daughters received a scholarship based on merit.

Police investigated the incident following a complaint by the Whitehouse Institute, allegedly obtaining CCTV footage and email evidence that identified Ms Newman.

At the time, Ms Newman was working as a casual ­library assistant for the private design school.

According to court documents, Ms Newman used the log-in of another staff member to access the Whitehouse Institute’s confidential student management system.

She then used the library computer to email two other Whitehouse employees from her personal email account, saying she had found information about Ms Abbott’s scholarship.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/student-freya-newman-pleads-guilty-to-hacking-frances-ab...

[cherry*135]

Thank you Ms Newman for exposing the Abbotts as liars - proving that FA's scholarship was not awarded on merit.

[j*oono]

They really didn't like the Abbotts being exposed for using their position to gain advantage over more deserving candidates.

Otherwise Ms Newman would be referred to as a whistle blower, not a hacker.

[***super_nova***]

---

@j*oono wrote:

 Abbotts being exposed for using their position to gain advantage over more deserving candidates.

---

Except there were no other candidates; the "scholarship" was simply specially created for Abbott's daughter.

[cherry*135]

Which makes the 'freebie' fees look even worse.

[azureline**]

but, it's not hacking if she used someone else's log in details to gain access......................She has been charged with unauthorised access to restricted data held in a computer at the Whitehouse Institute of Design on May 20.

[karliandjacko]

---

@j*oono wrote:

They really didn't like the Abbotts being exposed for using their position to gain advantage over more deserving candidates.

Otherwise Ms Newman would be referred to as a whistle blower, not a hacker.

---

They are making it illegal to be the whistle blower.

[cherry*135]

---

@azureline** wrote:

but, it's not hacking if she used someone else's log in details to gain access......................She has been charged with unauthorised access to restricted data held in a computer at the Whitehouse Institute of Design on May 20.

---

The reason why she did it is the same, whether hacking, or unauthorised access... to expose the truth behind FA's scholarship... as opposed to the reason given of a scholarship on 'merit'

[cherry*135]

The article quoted goes on to say.....The site published an article the day after the alleged hacking occurred....

[cherry*135]

Edited because a long post came out with no paragraphs. Will try again later.