A 30-year-old Maryland man was charged with two felonies Tuesday for allegedly using a Central Pacific Bank computer terminal to access information about the company’s employees.
Kobina Amonyi Manley Nyarku was charged with one count each of first- and second-degree unauthorized computer access and is being held in lieu of $250,000 bail at Oahu Community Correctional Center.
Nyarku allegedly breached the bank’s computer network Feb. 17 while posing as a prospective job applicant, according to a news release from the Honolulu Department of the Prosecuting Attorney.
Once CPB discovered the intrusion, the bank and the Honolulu Police Department arranged to have Nyarku return the following day for a job interview where he was arrested, the release said.
“Be careful who you allow to use your computers and cell phones,” the department urged in the release. “Criminals can steal valuable and personal information in a matter of seconds if left unmonitored and the damage can last a lifetime. Members of the public should take the time to review their own computer and cell phone security to ensure that they are as safe as possible. White-collar crime is devastating to its victims and we will hold Nyarku accountable for his alleged crimes.”
Due to the prompt response by CPB, no customer information was compromised, according to bank spokesman Brandt Farias.
“A complete analysis of the bank’s computer network found no ransomware or any other malicious programs. CPB is currently cooperating with law enforcement as part of an ongoing investigation to determine what employee records, if any, were compromised,” Farias said.
The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Thomas Michener of the department’s White Collar Team.
Unauthorized computer access in the first degree is a Class A felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison; the second-degree charge is a Class B felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
Nyarku is being held on $250,000 bail at Oahu Community Correctional Center.
