EY has terminated a graduate employee after he and another individual allegedly accessed Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's personal bank account. The two men, aged 21 and 25, appeared in court on Tuesday following the breach, which Australian Federal Police (AFP) said occurred while the EY graduate was on secondment at Commonwealth Bank.
Charges and Court Appearance
Paul Issa, 21, was charged with accessing restricted data without authorization and distributing personal data. Phillip Issa, 25, was charged with facilitating unauthorized access to restricted data. The AFP spokesperson confirmed both men were charged on 6 May and granted bail to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday. Their bail was continued until the next court hearing on 25 August.
Details of the Breach
According to Albanese's register of interests, he holds a savings account with Commonwealth Bank and a mortgage on a property on the New South Wales Central Coast, jointly owned with his wife. Treasurer Jim Chalmers described any such breaches as "incredibly concerning," not just regarding the Prime Minister's details but any Australian's details.
A Commonwealth Bank spokesperson declined to comment on individual contractor matters. An EY spokesperson also declined to comment but confirmed the former employee is no longer with the firm.
Scrutiny of Professional Services Firms
This incident adds to increased scrutiny on major professional services firms, following recent scandals at KPMG and PwC over leaks of confidential client audit and tax policy information.
