By Georgina Wilcox

Patricia Webster, a young Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) civilian staffer, pleaded guilty to several counts relating to the misuse of information on Tuesday (12) under the new Cayman Islands anti-corruption law.

Webster gains the dubious distinction of being the first person to be convicted under the legislation.

She was accused of giving out a phone number of a victim and attempting to find information from the police data base on behalf of a friend.

Webster admitted to two counts of abuse of public office and two charges of misconduct in a public office contrary to section 17 of the anti-corruption law 2008 when she appeared in Grand Court.

An investigation by the RCIPS’ own anti-corruption unit in 2011 began after allegations were made against Webster of misusing the police data systems.

She was charged in October 2011 and was placed on required leave by the police on full pay.

After pleading guilty she was bailed to return to Grand Court in May for sentencing.

From the Ant-Corruption Commission Cayman Islands concerning the above

On 12 March, 2013 Patricia Monique Webster plead guilty to two counts of misconduct in a public office. Miss Webster was charged in Indictment 85/11 of these offences under common law.

The charges relate to Miss Webster willfully misconducting herself in abuse of the public trust by making extensive searches of the confidential police database and soliciting information from the immigration database, otherwise than in accordance with her authorised duties, in order to 1) ascertain whether an individual was the subject of a criminal investigation; and 2) obtain the personal telephone number of a second individual and passing that number on to a third party.

A social inquiry report has been requested by Justice Quin and sentencing has been adjourned to 7 May, 2013 to allow for this to be prepared.

“The Anti-Corruption Commission and the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service will continue to receive and vigorously investigate allegations related to misconduct in public office and other related offences” said David Baines, Commissioner of Police and Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission.

For more information about the Anti-Corruption Commission visit www.anticorruptioncommission.ky or call 244-3687 or 928-1747 (confidential reporting line).