The data scandal at the Zurich Ministry of Justice caused a stir in December. No wonder: a story like this could hardly be better invented.
Blick revealed how the Zurich Ministry of Justice has been careless in throwing away computers for years. Hard drives containing unencrypted, highly sensitive data entered the Zurich milieu via shady characters. If the authorities had their way, the public would never have known about it.
The Zurich environmental lawyer Valentin Landmann (72) is responsible for the data leak becoming known. His client, Environmental Emperor Roland Gisler (58), had handed over 20 hard drives from the Zurich Ministry of Justice to the court in the context of a lawsuit. Gisler had been given this by his brother, who was responsible for the removal.
Fehr must provide answers
The cantonal council of Zurich now wants to work out the story thoroughly. Two urgent interpellations on the matter will therefore be discussed on Monday. Director of Justice Jacqueline Fehr (59, SP) must personally answer questions from the cantonal council.
Because the civil parties want to know everything in detail and have submitted an extensive catalog of questions. When the Zurich data scandal was last discussed in the Cantonal Parliament in mid-December 2022, Fehr was able to postpone the trial. It was said at the time that she couldn’t comment on everything.
For this purpose, Environmental Beizer Gisler appeared in person and deposited more hard drives full of sensitive data in parliament in front of the cameras. It is unlikely that the weather will be so spectacular.
PUK for data breach not ruled out
Ultimately, however, it could be spectacular: because then the question is whether a Parliamentary Committee of Inquiry (PUK) is deployed. In the middle of the Zurich election campaign, the conservative parties are unlikely to let the matter slide.
That would be heavy artillery. Such a committee of inquiry is the strongest tool Parliament can use and would review the whole matter in detail.
There hasn’t been a puk in the canton of Zurich for ten years. It then concerned the Civil Servants Insurance Fund of the Canton of Zurich, which was in financial difficulties.
Blick reports live from the cantonal council from 8.15 am. (tom/oco)