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Gary Mckinnon fights US extradition |
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Thursday, 16 February 2006 |
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A BRITISH computer enthusiast accused by the US government of the worlds "biggest military hack of all time" has begun a court fight against extradition.
Gary Mckinnon was arrested last June following charges by US prosecutors that he illegally accessed 97 government computers including Pentagon, US army, navy and NASA systems. Prosecutors say he hacked into sensitive networks over a one-year period from February 2002 and caused $US700,000 ($951,000) worth of damage, after crippling US defence systems in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks. If found guilty, Mr Mckinnon could face up to $US1.75 million in fines and 60 years in jail. Mr Mckinnons lawyers say he might be prosecuted under military law if he were sent to the United States and could be subjected to "special administrative measures" such as solitary confinement and other tactics to persuade him to plead guilty. |