rules out charges against accused Pentagon hacker in uk
BRITISH authorities have said they will not bring charges against a computer expert accused of the “biggest military hack of all time”, dealing a blow to his bid to avoid extradition.
Gary McKinnon was arrested by British police in 2002 after US prosecutors charged him with illegally accessing computers, including the Pentagon, US army, navy and NASA systems, and causing $US700,000 ($1.08 million) worth of damage.
A British court ruled in 2006 that he should be extradited to the US to face trial. If convicted by a US court, he could face up to 70 years in prison.
Mr McKinnon has been battling the extradition decision ever since.
His lawyers asked Britain’s Director of Public Prosecutions to consider a request to prosecute him in Britain where they believe he would receive a shorter sentence.
But the Crown Prosecution Service said a review had concluded it would be wrong for him to face trial at home.