Toronto cop charged with accessing private police databases without authorization
Advertisement
Read this article for free:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Monthly Digital Subscription
$1 per week for 24 weeks*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
- Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
- Access News Break, our award-winning app
- Play interactive puzzles
*Billed as $4.00 plus GST every four weeks. After 24 weeks, price increases to the regular rate of $19.95 plus GST every four weeks. Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.
Monthly Digital Subscription
$4.99/week*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
- Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
- Access News Break, our award-winning app
- Play interactive puzzles
*Billed as $19.95 plus GST every four weeks. Cancel any time.
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional
$1 for the first 4 weeks*
*Your next subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $16.99 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $23.99 plus GST every four weeks.
Read unlimited articles for free today:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
TORONTO – Toronto police say they have arrested and charged one of their own officers who allegedly accessed private police databases without authorization.
Police allege Const. Abbas Popal accessed the databases several times between January 2024 and April 2025.
They say the 25-year-old officer has been charged with unauthorized use of a computer and was suspended with pay in accordance with the Community Safety and Policing Act.
Investigators say Popal has served with the force for about three years.
They say the case is not related to Project South, a high-profile organized crime and corruption investigation that led to charges against seven Toronto police officers and one retired officer.
Popal is scheduled to appear in court in June.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 18, 2026.