World · North America · 3 hrs ago
Philadelphia police watchdog chair charged over alleged witness data sale
Philadelphia prosecutors say watchdog chair Hassan Bennett sold confidential witness information to Thomas Scott for $500.
They allege Bennett used his job as a bail navigator at the Defender Association of Philadelphia to obtain an unredacted arrest report and share a witness’s name.
Prosecutors say Scott was trying to intimidate the witness in a domestic violence case and make him withdraw his statement.
Investigators say Scott threatened to shoot the witness and circulated the documents to others.
Bennett, who chairs the city’s Citizens Police Oversight Commission, faces four felony charges, including witness intimidation and bribery.
The commission was created after the 2020 protests over George Floyd’s death to help hold police accountable and build public trust.
The case matters because prosecutors say sensitive information was allegedly misused by someone entrusted with public oversight.
The allegations have not been proven in court, and the sources do not say what happens next.
Philadelphia police watchdog chair Hassan Bennett faces four felony charges over allegations that he sold confidential witness information to Thomas Scott for $500.
Prosecutors say Scott sought to intimidate a witness in a domestic violence case and threatened to shoot him.
Investigators say Bennett used his job at the Defender Association of Philadelphia to access an unredacted arrest report and disclose the witness’s identity.
The allegations came to light after investigators monitored prison calls and social media activity in August.
Bennett was acquitted of a 2008 murder conviction at a retrial in 2019.
- Who
- Hassan Bennett, chair of the Philadelphia Citizens Police Oversight Commission, and Thomas Scott, who prosecutors say sought to intimidate a witness.
- What
- Bennett is charged with four felonies over allegations that he sold Scott confidential witness information for $500.
- When
- The alleged scheme came to light in August. The charges were announced last week, according to the article.
- Where
- Philadelphia.
- Why
- Prosecutors say Scott wanted to intimidate a witness in a domestic violence case and stop him from giving evidence.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Bennett was convicted of second-degree murder.
Bennett was acquitted at a retrial after spending more than a decade behind bars.
Investigators monitoring prison calls and social media activity discovered that Scott was trying to locate a witness.
The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office announced charges against Bennett.
- Defendant
- Hassan Bennett, 43
- Charges
- Four felonies, including witness intimidation, conspiracy, bribery and criminal use of a communication facility
- Alleged payment
- $500
- Other defendant
- Thomas Scott, 45
- Bennett’s job
- Bail navigator at the Defender Association of Philadelphia
What people are saying
I would like to be in a position to say that this defendant had no such involvement, but he did, and the evidence is strong
It is absolutely disgraceful that someone who was entrusted to provide critical oversight of police officers and employed by the Defender Association of Philadelphia would engage in selling sensitive information that could have resulted in serious harm to a victim