Lawyer Faces Charges for Inmate Relationships, Data Mishandling

0:00It's April 16, Sydney news today starts now, AI-powered and ready. A 32-year-old lawyer from New South Wales Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions faces serious criminal charges tied to alleged sexual relationships with inmates and mishandling confidential info. Vanessa O'Brien got hit with counts of misconduct in public office accessing restricted data and hiding evidence plus later charges for dealing with crime proceeds worth about $5,000. Earlier this week, a local court tightened her bail conditions even more. She's banned from using apps like WhatsApp, Snapchat and others such as Telegram or Signal and she can only have one phone with its password handed over to police. No entering jails or contacting inmates either except through lawyers. The ODP pieces spend to her without pay right away and tipped off police last September after spotting shady activity. They say they're fully backing the investigation and plan their own probe once cops wrap up.

1:00Her case has shocked folks in legal circles highlighting risks and correctional work. Police rated her Balina home on October 30th last year, grabbing phones and docks. A court order had kept her name under wraps until the Supreme Court lifted it this month, revealing links to inmates like Gangland killer Joshua, Baines. She now lives in Windsor, northwest Sydney, reporting to police three days a week with no new passport allowed and travel restrictions. The case heads back to Balina local court on May 7th for the next update as authorities dig deeper into these allegations.