Steve Quayle News Alerts

July 13, 2002

HONOLULU (Reuters) - FBI and military authorities are investigating the theft of classified computer files that were stolen when four military officers left them in their car while swimming last month at a popular Oahu beach, officials said on Friday.

But a spokesman for the U.S. Pacific Command at Camp Smith, also said that all the missing files "had been accounted for."

"We are satisfied that all the missing material has been accounted for," Navy Capt. John Singley said. "I can't go beyond that."

Singley would not discuss the content or classification level of the computer files, which were stored on discs.

The files were among items taken from the trunk of a car being used by the officers when they went to Waimea Bay on June 14. Singley declined to identify the Hawaii-based officers by name or rank but they are members of the Army and Air Force.

"Obviously, a military investigation is continuing to look into the circumstances surrounding the handling of this material," Singley said. "Possible disciplinary action could result, depending on what the investigation finds out."

Kevin Rickett, an FBI spokesman in Hawaii, would not comment on the progress of the investigation. The FBI is investigating because the stolen items were government property, he said.

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