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Manager detained for hacking into state-owned company in Latvia

Xinhua, February 11, 2016 Adjust font size:

A manager at Valsts Nekustamie Ipasumi (VNI), a state-owned company in charge of Latvia' s public properties, was detained last week for hacking into the company's information system and gaining unauthorized access to sensitive economic and military data, the Latvian State Police informed Wednesday.

Last Thursday, Feb. 4, officers of the cyber-crime unit of the economic police were alerted to a data breach in the VNI information system. Thanks to the swift reaction of the company's IT specialists, a recently hired manager on a trial period at VNI was caught stealing sensitive data from the company's computers.

"VNI uncovered a major data leakage. We reported it to law enforcement authorities. One of our managers was detained" in connection with the data theft, said VNI representative Arnis Blodons.

A criminal probe was launched into the data breach and access to the state-owned company's information system was swiftly blocked and the stolen data retrieved. The investigation resulted in the arrest of a 51-year old VNI manager who was hiding from police in an apartment in Riga.

Police asked a court to remand the suspect in custody and the request was granted. The man is suspected of gaining unauthorized access to sensitive information concerning Latvia's economic and military security and of abusing his office powers. If found guilty, the man may face a jail term of up to five years, police said. Enditem