Operation Delhi has featured strongly in the McGrail Inquiry but what is it? Here's our explainer
Summary
TLDROperation Delhi, initiated in October 2018, involves a complex case of alleged corporate sabotage and conspiracy. The operation began after James Gajo, Chairman of Bland Limited, complained to the Royal Gibraltar Police (RGP) about hacking and sabotage of the National Security System (NIS) platform. Two former Bland employees, Thomas Cornelio and John Perez, had left to form 36 North Limited, which was financially backed by Hassan's Law Firm, with significant shares held by the firm and government officials. The dispute centered around the ownership and maintenance of the NIS platform. The RGP, with UK's National Crime Agency's assistance, arrested Cornelio, Perez, and a senior government official, Kan Sanchez, for conspiracy to defraud Bland. However, the charges were discontinued by the Attorney General via a noly prosequi in January 2022, citing public interest. The inquiry continues, with the ownership of the NIS platform remaining unresolved, and has raised concerns over the security of Gibraltar's people.
Takeaways
- 🚨 **Operation Delhi Initiation**: The operation began in October 2018 following a complaint by James Gajo, Chairman of Bland Limited, to the RGP Commissioner about hacking and sabotage of the NYS platform.
- 📜 **Formal Complaint**: A formal written complaint was submitted to the RGP in December 2018, alleging a series of outages and security breaches.
- 💼 **New Venture**: In July 2018, two employees of Bland, Thomas Cornelio and John Perez, left to establish 36 North Limited with financial backing from Hassan's Law Firm.
- 🤝 **Investor Shares**: Hassan's Law Firm held a 33% share in 36 North, with senior partner James Leive owning over 10% and Chief Minister Fabian Picardo owning under 3%.
- 💡 **Government Custom**: Cornelio and Perez aimed to attract government custom for NIS away from Bland to their new company, believing the government should choose the better service provider.
- 📘 **Legal Representation**: Peter Carana represented Bland in the case against 36 North Limited over the disputed ownership of the NIS platform.
- 👮♂️ **Arrests and Allegations**: In May 2019, with the help of the UK's National Cyber Crime Unit, Thomas Cornelio, John Perez, and a senior government civil servant, Kan Sanchez, were arrested for allegedly conspiring to defraud Bland.
- 🔍 **Investigation Focus**: The RGP focused the investigation on the maintenance contract rather than the platform's ownership to circumvent legal complexities.
- 🏛️ **Chief Minister's Intervention**: The Chief Minister intervened, ensuring the NIS contract remained with Bland.
- 📉 **Charges and Denial**: Cornelio, Perez, and Sanchez were charged with conspiracy to defraud Bland on the basis of undermining Bland's maintenance contract. They have consistently denied the charges.
- 🛑 **Discontinuation of Proceedings**: In January 2022, the Attorney General applied a noly pro to discontinue the proceedings, citing public interest, despite believing there was enough evidence for prosecution.
- ⚖️ **Ongoing Inquiry**: The inquiry continues with no written contract established regarding the ownership of the NIS platform, and the National Security platform has been severely compromised.
Q & A
When did Operation Delhi begin?
-Operation Delhi began in October 2018.
Who made a complaint to the RGP Commissioner?
-James Gajo, the chairman of Bland Limited, made a complaint to the RGP Commissioner.
What was the name of the private enterprise set up by Thomas Cornelio and John Perez?
-The private enterprise set up by Thomas Cornelio and John Perez was called 36 North Limited.
How much financial backing did 36 North Limited receive from Hassan's Law Firm?
-36 North Limited received £476,000 in financial backing from Hassan's Law Firm.
What percentage of shares did Chief Minister Fabian Picardo have in 36 North Limited?
-Chief Minister Fabian Picardo had just under 3% of shares in 36 North Limited.
Which entity did Bland Limited believe the government should choose to deliver a better service?
-Bland Limited believed the government should choose 36 North Limited to deliver a better service.
Who represented Bland in the case against 36 North Limited?
-Peter Carana represented Bland in the case against 36 North Limited.
What was the focus of the op Delhi investigation?
-The focus of the op Delhi investigation was on the maintenance contract rather than the actual NIS platform.
What charges were Thomas Cornelio, John Perez, and Kan Sanchez initially facing?
-They were initially charged with conspiracy to defraud Bland by assuming the intellectual property rights to NIS.
What legal instrument did the Attorney General apply to discontinue the proceedings?
-The Attorney General applied a noly PRI, a rare legal instrument, to discontinue the proceedings.
What was the reason cited by the Attorney General for discontinuing the proceedings?
-The Attorney General cited public interest grounds for discontinuing the proceedings.
What has been the status of the ownership contract for the NIS platform?
-No written contract as to who owns the NIS platform has ever been established.
Outlines
🚨 Operation Delhi: Alleged Sabotage and Legal Proceedings
Operation Delhi was initiated in October 2018 following a complaint by James Gajo, Chairman of Bland Limited, to the RGP Commissioner, alleging hacking and sabotage of the NYS platform. Two ex-employees, Thomas Cornelio and John Perez, had left to form 36 North Limited, backed by Hassan's Law Firm. The firm and its partners, including the Chief Minister, held shares in 36 North. Bland accused 36 North of attempting to steal the NIS platform contract. The RGP focused on a maintenance contract in its investigation. In May 2019, with UK's National Cyber Crime Unit's help, Cornelio, Perez, and a senior civil servant, Kan San Sanchez, were arrested for conspiracy to defraud Bland. The men claimed the government owned NIS, not Bland. Charges were later adjusted to focus on the maintenance contract. Despite the Chief Justice's confidence in dismissing the charges, the Attorney General discontinued the case in January 2022 citing public interest, and a restriction notice was issued regarding the NIS system.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Operation Delhi
💡Bland Limited
💡36 North Limited
💡Hassan's Law Firm
💡National Cyber Crime Unit
💡Conspiracy to Defraud
💡Intellectual Property Rights
💡Maintenance Contract
💡Public Interest
💡Chief Minister Fabin Picardo
💡No Case to Answer (NoLY)
💡National Security Platform (NIS)
Highlights
Operation Delhi began in October 2018 following a complaint by James Gajo, Chairman of Bland Limited, to the RGP Commissioner.
James Gajo alleged hacking and sabotage of the NYS platform and filed a formal complaint in December 2018.
Two employees, Thomas Cornelio and John Perez, left Bland to form 36 North Limited with financial backing from Hassan's Law Firm.
Hassan's Law Firm owned a 33% share in 36 North, with various stakeholders including the Chief Minister holding shares.
Cornelio and Perez aimed to attract government custom for NIS away from Bland to 36 North.
Peter Carana represented Bland in the case against 36 North Limited over the disputed ownership of the NIS platform.
The UK's National Cyber Crime Unit and the National Crime Agency assisted in the arrests of Cornelio, Perez, and a senior government civil servant, Kan Sanchez, in May 2019.
The men were accused of conspiring to defraud Bland by assuming the intellectual property rights to NIS.
The RGP focused the investigation on the maintenance contract rather than the platform's ownership.
The Chief Minister intervened, ensuring the NIS contract remained with Bland.
James Levie, a senior partner at Hassan's, was suspected of involvement but was later cleared of being a suspect.
Thomas Cornelio, John Perez, and Kan Sanchez were charged with conspiracy to defraud Bland on the basis of undermining a maintenance contract.
Cornelio faced additional computer misuse charges, while Sanchez was charged with conduct in public office.
The three men have consistently denied the charges and maintained their innocence.
In January 2022, the Attorney General applied a noly PRI to discontinue the proceedings, citing public interest grounds.
A restriction notice was issued under the Inquiries Act, limiting references to the NIS system in documents before the inquiry.
The Chief Minister cited public interest in the inquiry into the early retirement of Igel.
The National Security platform was reported to have been severely assaulted, putting the people of Jalter at risk.
No written contract has been established regarding the ownership of the NIS platform.
Transcripts
operation Delhi began in October 2018
after the chairman of bland limited
James gajo made a complaint directly to
the rgp commissioner at the time I mcgr
following a series of outages he alleged
the hacking and or sabotage of the NYS
platform he wrote a formal written
complaint to the rgp in December of that
year but rewinding back to July 2018 two
employees of bland Thomas Cornelio and
John Perez left the company after they
set up a private Enterprise called 36
North limited this they did with the
financial backing of Hassan's Law Firm
to the tune of £
476,000
hans's owned a 33% share in 36 North
through a holding company called aelon
limited senior partner James levie owned
just over a 10% share while chief
minister fabin picardo had just under 3%
other senior Partners at hans's also Al
had a small
shareholding Mr Cornelio and Perez hoped
to attract the government custom for NIS
away from Bland to 36 North believing it
was for the government to decide who
could deliver a better service s Peter
Carana represented Bland in the case
against 36 North limited over the
ownership of the NIS platform which was
disputed sepa also took a role in
preparing the evidence for the rgp he
now represents the government parties in
the mcrell
inquiry moving on to May 2019 now with
the help of the UK's National cyber
crime unit at the National Crime agency
Thomas Cornelio and John Perez were
arrested along with a senior government
civil servant Kan
Sanchez at the time of their arrests it
was alleged that they had conspired to
defraud Bland by assuming the
intellectual property rights to Enis it
was also alleged that they had
dishonestly undermined Bland's ability
to perform its contractual agreement
with the government and therefore obtain
the benefit of that agreement for
themselves Andor for 36 North limited
but the men maintained that it was the
government who were the owners of NIS
and not Bland the rgp circumvented the
ownership issue by focusing the op Deli
investigation on the maintenance
contract rather than on the actual
platform the chief minister intervened
and said the NIS contract would remain
with Bland
by early 2020 the investigation led the
police to the offices of Hassan's senior
partner James lvie whom they suspected
may be involved in the conspiracy to
defraud
investigation on the 12th of May 2020
the rgp attempted to execute a search
warrant at his office Mr levie handed
over his devices voluntarily but the
warrant was never executed Mr Levy's
devices were never searched and by
September that year he was no longer
considered to be be a suspect but Thomas
Cornelio John Perez and Cain Sanchez
were charged with conspiracy to defraud
Bland but on a different basis that they
had intended to undermine the ability of
bland to perform a maintenance contract
relating to NIS Mr Cornelio was also
charged with a number of computer misuse
offenses including unauthorized access
and unauthorized acts with intent to
impair cause or create risk of serious
damage additionally Cain Sanchez was
charged with conduct in public office
the three men have always denied the
charges and have maintained their
innocence from the outset they were
confident the Chief Justice would
dismiss the charges against them but in
January 2022 just before trial
everything came to a halt the Attorney
General announced he was applying a rare
legal instrument called a noly PRI to
discontinue the proceedings despite
saying there was enough evidence to
prosecute he cited public interest
grounds the day before the inquiry was
due to start the government issued a
restriction notice under the inquiries
act relating to a small and limited
number of references to the NIS system
in documents before the inquiry into
igel's early retirement the chief
minister cited public interest grounds
this week IM Migel told the inquiry the
National Security platform had been
severely assaulted putting the people of
jalter at risk the inquiry continues and
no written cont contract as to who owns
the NIS platform has ever been
established
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