Former software developer created ‘national security risk’ taking top secret data home, court hears

A former software developer at a ‘sensitive Government organisation’ has appeared in court after allegedly taking top secret data home and creating a national security risk.

Hasaan Arshad, 23, has been charged under the Computer Misuse Act after an investigation led by Scotland Yard’s counter-terrorism command.

Prosecutors allege that before leaving his job on August 24, Arshad took his work mobile phone into a top secret area and connected the device to a top secret work station.

He is said to have transferred sensitive data from a secure top secret computer to the phone before taking it home.

Dressed in dark jeans and a black parka jacket, Arshad appeared yesterday at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, where he spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address in Rochdale, Greater Manchester.

Arshad boasts on his Linkedin page that he is a ‘skilled software engineer who can see ideas through from design to implementation.’ 

The profile states Arshad worked as a developer at a government agency and was tasked with designing, researching and implementing a key software project.

‘Top secret’ is the classification for the Government’s most sensitive information, where compromise might cause widespread loss of life or threaten the security or economic wellbeing of the country or friendly nations, according to Ministry of Justice security guidance.

Arshad was not asked to enter a plea to a single charge under Section 3ZA of the Computer Misuse Act 1990 relating to ‘unauthorised acts causing, or creating risk of, serious damage’.

The charge states: ‘Between August 23 2022 and September 23 2022 (he) did an unauthorised act in relation to a computer and at the time of doing the act knew that it was unauthorised; and the act caused, or created a significant risk of, serious damage of a material kind, this being damage to the national security of a country; and he intended by doing the act to cause serious damage of a material kind or was reckless as to whether such damage was caused.’ 

Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring granted Arshad conditional bail ahead of his next appearance at the Old Bailey on May 5.

He said the defendant must live and sleep at his home address, must not leave or attempt to leave the UK mainland, and must notify the police of any internet-enabled device in his possession.

He is banned from using anonymous internet browsing tools including VPN and Onion routing, or accessing darknet systems such as Tor.