Former ADF Lt Colonel Antoni Gregory Furman faces SA court charged with unauthorised access to ammunition database

An eastern suburbs former high-ranking military officer is accused of unlawfully accessing an ammunition database as he made his way into the public sector, a court has heard.

Antoni Gregory Furman outside the Adelaide Magistrates Court. Picture: Emma Brasier

A former high-ranking military officer has faced court, accused of accessing secret data on armaments and ammunition projects as he departed for the private sector.

Antoni Gregory Furman, 45, of Joslin, faced the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Wednesday charged with nine counts of having unauthorised access to, or modifying, restricted data.

Court documents allege the offences occurred at Canberra and Russell in the ACT, in Brisbane and in Adelaide and Kensington between May and October, 2019.

Mr Furman has yet to enter a plea to the charges.

Commonwealth prosecutors allege that, prior to those dates, Mr Furman was a Lieutenant Colonel in the Australian Defence Force who worked in procurement.

They allege that, in his role, Mr Furman was responsible for the procurement of armaments and artillery through an online ADF “portal” outlining upcoming projects.

Mr Furman has yet to plead to nine counts of having unauthorised access to restricted data. Picture: Emma Brasier

Prosecutors further allege that, following the tendering of his resignation, Mr Furman received ADF approval to work for a private contractor that supplied armaments and artillery.

They allege that, both before leaving the ADF and immediately after, Mr Furman had and retained access to the online portal.

He used that, they allege, to access documentation connected to projects for which his new employer was a prospective supplier.

On Wednesday, counsel for Mr Furman asked the matter be adjourned for a further six weeks in order to finalise instructions.

A Commonwealth prosecutor said he did not oppose the adjournment, even though the brief of evidence had largely been completed.

“We have been reached out to, by defence counsel, in seeking further information from the agency (that operates the online portal),” he said.

“We have only just obtained that information late last night.”

Magistrate Simon Smart remanded the matter and ordered Mr Furman enter pleas to the charges next month.