The daughter of a woman allegedly murdered by her former boyfriend has filed a judicial letter against Vodafone, claiming an ex-employee had given out information about her mother’s SMSs and location.

Caricia Sammut, daughter of Christine Sammut, said the former phone company employee gave data pertaining to her mother’s mobile phone – which was supposed to be protected by law – to Kenneth Gafa’, 41, of Marsa.

Mr Gafa’ is pleading not guilty to shooting the mother dead at point-blank range in Żebbiegħ on December 11, 2010. She was shot in the neck and chest while in the driver’s seat of a van waiting for her new boyfriend.

Former employee passed information about her mother’s whereabouts

Mr Gafa’ has been in prison ever since after at first failing to secure bail and, once being granted bail, failing to afford the deposit – which he said in a separate court case was a breach of human rights.

His claim was dismissed.

In the judicial letter, Ms Sammut said that the former Vodaphone employee had passed on information about her mother’s whereabouts by using triangulation, by which a mobile phone’s location could be pinpointed. She demanded that Vodafone pay her compensation.

In a statement, Vodafone Malta strongly denied the allegation that information related to the victim’s location was ever disclosed.

The company said it took the privacy of its customers extremely seriously and had detailed compliance requirements in place to safeguard against unauthorised disclosure of personal data.

Vodafone Malta again expressed its deepest sympathy with the family of Ms Sammut for their tragic loss.