An information technology technician, contracted to work for the Gautrain Management Agency, has been sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment for installing spyware to laptop and desktop computers at the Gautrain’s offices in Midrand.
The Johannesburg Specialised Commercial Crimes Court handed down the sentence to Obakeng Busang on 11 May.
A statement released by Hurbetin Mjonondwane, the spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority in Gauteng said that Busang had initially pleaded not guilty and then changed the plea to guilty. He was convicted on 38 counts of contravening the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act.
“The court grouped the offences in accordance with the nature of the type of spyware used. He was sentenced to five years on each group of charges with the court ordering that some sentences should run concurrently.”
During his employ, Busang was responsible for assisting employees with technical problems related to their computers. “He then used this opportunity, under the pretence that he was installing the latest software, to instal spyware such as Remote Administration Tools (Rats) and key loggers to overcome security measures designed to protect employees passwords and/ or access codes to gain access to information from the employees’ laptops.”
Mjonondwane said that Busang alleged that he was approached by someone at a car wash and was requested to help a syndicate obtain login details of the people who are responsible for making payments to creditors of the Gautrain Management Agency. “He stated that he was offered a reward if he could provide the login credentials of the CFO [chief financial officer] and the CEO.”
The head of IT at the Gautrain Management Agency noticed irregularities and decided to terminate Busang’s contract on 24 October 2013.
“He then bought a laptop which had been doctored and connected it the Gautrain Management Agency’s system so that his partners in crime could access the login credentials of the top executives remotely.” At this time, Busang had been informed that his contract with the Gautrain Management Agency would terminate his services on 31 October 2013.
When Busang’s contract was terminated, the head of IT was with him while clearing his desk and, as such, he could not remove the doctored laptop. After Busang had collected his laptop, he called his uncle, who also worked at the company, and asked him to collect the laptop.
Busang’s uncle thought that the laptop belonged to the company and took it to the asset manager. The assets manager called the head of IT and realised that someone else was operating the laptop remotely. The Gautrain Management Agency spent at least R1.2 million to remove the spyware and replace hard drives.
Senior State Advocate Tilas Chabalala argued that each count carried a maximum sentence of five years’ imprisonment. He added that Busang was not a suitable candidate for correctional supervision as he had previously disobeyed a court order to consult with a correctional officer who had been asked to compile a correctional report.
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