Hidden microphones and computer software that allowed a criminal gang to steal confidential information have been uncovered in Cali’s mayoral offices, according to newspaper El Colombiano.
The equipment was found by a specialized team from Cali’s Information, Technical and Electronic Investigations Unit, in the offices of the city’s Mayor Rodrigo Guerrero and his closest associates.
The operation was directed by General Fabio Castañeda, Cali’s Police Commander, who said; “Our investigators found secret cameras and a spying program called ‘Keyloggers’, that can detect and plagarize information on a computer. In this case the targets were Mayor Rodrigo Guerrero, the administrative secretary, private secretary and an advisor.”
“With this they intended to gather information about the activities of the administration, to clone accounts, obtain financial information, secret passwords, payroll information and land registry records, with which they intended to do much damage,” added the commander.
It is thought that programs were installed in 2009, and most recently activated in 2011. Following the discovery, the mayor’s office announced it would purchase electronic protection equipment to prevent future hacking.
The operation that uncovered the equipment was the result of investigations being conducted by the Prosecutor General’s Office into the computer hacking gang known as the “Creole Hackers”, who are being held responsible.