Queensland police have laid nine criminal charges against an officer who leaked the personal details of a domestic violence victim.

Senior Constable Neil Punchard was investigated and disciplined internally in 2016 for accessing the woman’s address from a police database and sending it to her violent former husband.

“Just tell her you know where she lives and leave it at that. Lol. She will flip,” Punchard wrote in a 2014 message that has been seen by Guardian Australia and was sent to the state’s Crime and Corruption Commission.

Guardian Australia can confirm that Punchard has on Friday been charged with nine counts of computer hacking.

The Queensland police commissioner, Ian Stewart, has come under intense scrutiny over his handling of the matter, which has been the subject of significant media coverage and debate in the state parliament.

Stewart has repeatedly refused interview requests to discuss the matter and police attitudes towards domestic violence victims. It is understood the commissioner ultimately sanctioned a second investigation, which resulted in the charges being laid.

The victim, Julie*, has been campaigning for criminal action against Punchard for more than two years. She is also seeking compensation from the Queensland police for breaching her privacy and having to subsequently relocate her family.

Both the government and police accept as fact that Julie’s privacy was breached by Punchard.

At a hearing in the Queensland civil and adminstrative tribunal, Punchard invoked his privilege against self-incrimination and refused to answer several questions.

In a statement, police said “a 52-year-old male senior constable from the road policing command” had been handed a notice to appear in court.

“The officer was the subject of an investigation that he conducted unauthorised searches on Queensland Police Service information systems not connected with official duties.

“This matter will be subject to further consideration within the QPS disciplinary system.”

He will face Brisbane magistrates court on 30 January.