Patricia Monique Webster, 31, pleaded guilty in Grand Court on Tuesday to two counts of misconduct in public office.
The offences occurred between April and August 2011, when Webster was a civilian staff member in the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service. She was charged under common law and the matter could be heard only in the Grand Court.
Details of the charge are that Webster, being a public officer, wilfully misconducted 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. Authorities said this was done in order to 1) ascertain whether an individual was the subject of a criminal investigation; and 2) to obtain the personal telephone number of a second individual and passing that number on to a third party.
A jury was chosen on Monday, but then excused as Crown Counsel Laura Manson and defence attorney Ben Tonner submitted legal arguments to Justice Charles Quin.
On Tuesday, after Webster’s pleas, the judge ordered a social inquiry report before sentencing, which has been adjourned until Tuesday, 7 May. Webster’s bail was continued until that date.
On Wednesday, a news release was disseminated on behalf of the Anti-Corruption Commission. It stated in part:
“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.
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