Corporate Case Study - Harassment - Computer and phone analysis

The following is an anonymised case study based on a real assignment conducted by CCL-Forensics for a corporate sector client

A male Finance Director of a large organisation had been accused by several female employees of acting inappropriately and harassing them verbally, by email and text message.

Following a series of complaints, the HR department contacted CCL-Forensics.  To avoid arousing suspicion, CCL suggested its Analysts undertook a covert operation involving attending the office out-of-hours to take a forensic copy of the suspect's computer.  Because much of the evidence was thought to be contained within emails, the server was also imaged to capture the details of any correspondence.

In addition, the organisation confiscated the suspect's company mobile phone.

This evidence was taken to CCL-Forensics' secure laboratories and our specialised computer and mobile phone analysts set to work.  A number of emails and text messages were discovered which had been sent by the suspect to his female colleagues over a period of six months.  It was also revealed that he had been using his PC to download pornography, a practice strictly prohibited by the company's acceptable use policy.

A detailed report was provided to the client, who suspended the employee immediately.  They are now making the decision as to how to proceed.