Police called in on leak

Press, 24 September 1987, Page 29

Police called in on leak

PA Wellington The Commerce Commission has asked the police to investigate the leak of Commission documents relating to Auckland Gas Company tariffs which were published in the financial media. The Commission and its staff share the Auckland Gas Company’s concern about the leak, Commission deputy chairman, Mr Barrie Tucker, said yesterday. The leak of the material may be an offence because parts of the text was subject to a Commission confidentiality order, he said. The Commerce Act makes it an offence to communicate or publish documents subject to a confidentiality order. Anyone who does so may be liable for a fine of up to $4OOO for individuals and $12,000 for companies. “The preservation of business confidence generally is important to the Commission’s work,” Mr Tucker said. “In particular, it jealously guards its long established reputation for protecting information which it properly regards as confidential.”