The tipster email link for the Quebec government's anti-corruption inquiry has been shut down after it was reportedly hacked.
Seven emails -- one of which claimed the bribing of a Montreal city employee by a construction company -- were allegedly given to the QuebecLeaks website by hackers who said they were testing the site for security flaws.
Other emails, described by the website, supposedly discussed illicit cash transfers and a debit card that was offered to an official.
All the people mentioned in the emails were reportedly able to be identified. The commission was told Monday that its emails had been given to other people.
A spokesman for the anti-corruption commission headed by Justice France Charbonneau said Wednesday that security is being reviewed and tightened.
But spokesman Richard Bourdon also expressed doubts about the reports of the leak, saying the email was deactivated hours after it was set up last week.
He questioned whether the emails were actually sent to the commission and speculated that this might be an attempt to discredit it.
A Montreal newspaper, Le Devoir, reports hackers intercepted emails addressed to the commission, raising fears for the privacy of the information being submitted.
Public Security Minister Robert Dutil says Charbonneau has to take responsibility for the security of the site.
"Madame Charbonneau is independent and she has to assure the commission is functioning well, she has to keep an eye on things," Dutil said.
He added he didn't know if the commission's website was secure or not and wouldn't speculate on the possibility of an investigation.
The commission is accepting tips by telephone only, until further notice, at 1-855-333-2342.
