A Toronto police constable has entered a guilty plea to unauthorized use of a computer in connection with Project South, a wide‑ranging investigation into organised crime and alleged police misconduct, court records show.
Guilty plea in probe that exposed alleged leaks to organised crime
Const. Elias Mouawad pleaded guilty on Monday to a charge of using a computer without authorisation, his defence counsel informed the court. The Crown, the lawyer said, withdrew a separate charge of breach of trust against the officer.
The plea forms part of Project South, an investigation led by York Regional Police that resulted earlier this year in 27 people being charged. Among those accused were eight current and former Toronto police officers. The probe uncovered allegations that included bribery, conspiracy to commit murder and drug trafficking, according to police statements made when charges were announced.
- 27 people charged in the wider Project South investigation.
- 8 current and former Toronto officers among those charged.
- 1 Toronto officer, Const. Elias Mouawad, has pleaded guilty to unauthorized computer use.
The investigation began after York Region officers probed an alleged plot to kill a corrections officer. That inquiry raised concerns that some Toronto officers may have provided personal information to individuals connected to an organised crime group.
Legal and institutional consequences
Details provided in court filings indicate the Crown chose to accept a plea on the computer‑use offence and drop the breach of trust count. Mouawad’s lawyer, Peter Brauti, confirmed the arrangement in court but did not elaborate on the particulars of the computer access or the data involved.
Project South has been characterised by authorities as a sweeping matter that crosses municipal boundaries and involves multiple types of alleged offending. The inclusion of serving and retired police officers among the charged has raised questions about internal controls over sensitive police databases, and about whether adequate safeguards exist to prevent improper disclosures to criminal networks.
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| People charged in Project South | 27 |
| Toronto police officers charged | 8 |
| Guilty pleas reported (Toronto officer) | 1 |
Police forces and civilian oversight bodies have previously identified improper access to police information systems as a significant integrity risk. In this case, authorities have linked the probe to an allegation that personal data was shared with people connected to organised crime; the resulting charges include serious offences such as conspiracy to commit murder and drug trafficking.
Public trust and next steps
While the Crown’s decision to accept a plea on the computer‑use count narrows the outstanding charges against Mouawad, the broader Project South prosecution remains before the courts. The investigation’s scale and the nature of the allegations mean the prosecutions, and any disciplinary actions, will be closely watched by municipal police services, oversight agencies and the public.
York Regional Police led the inquiry that launched the multi‑agency investigation. Courts will determine the outcomes of the remaining charges against all accused as proceedings continue.
No further comment was provided in the court record about sentencing for Mouawad on the computer‑use offence, and his lawyer did not provide additional detail beyond the confirmation of the plea and the withdrawal of the breach of trust charge.
The case underscores continuing concerns about the potential for abuse of privileged access to police databases and the risks that poses to both individuals’ privacy and public confidence in law enforcement.
