Vodacom pays O'Sullivan R1.2m for privacy breach
In an outcome described by the Daily Maverick as a victory for the protection of personal information from corporate recklessness, Vodacom has coughed up R1.2m in an out-of-court settlement for handing over forensic investigator Paul O'Sullivan’s personal information to jailed former underworld boss Radovan Krejcir's legal team in 2014.
The report notes O’Sullivan lodged an application in the Gauteng High Court (Johannesburg) in 2014 after Vodacom had handed over, without his permission, personal information to the legal team representing Krejcir. In May 2014, Vodacom electronically furnished O’Sullivan’s cell phone records to David H Botha, Du Plessis and Kruger Inc of BDK Attorneys who represented Krejcir at the time.
The cellphone giant did this without obtaining permission from O’Sullivan.
O’Sullivan, despite an application to sequestrate the estate of Krejcir, had been unable to recover the costs which he said he would not have incurred had Vodacom not illegally handed over his details.
The personal cost, said O’Sullivan, had amounted to R2 145 852.92 including fees for the application as well as R151 649.22 for an application to sequestrate Krejcir’s estate.
O’Sullivan reportedly told the DM ’the matter has become settled, but my attorney tells me I am not permitted to discuss the matter further’.
Article disclaimer: While we have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of this article, it is not intended to provide final legal advice as facts and situations will differ from case to case, and therefore specific legal advice should be sought with a lawyer.
