Etisalat to be told to produce evidence against hacker

[InfoSec News <isn () C4I ORG>]

http://www.gulf-news.com/Articles/news.asp?ArticleID=5629

Dubai | By Eman Abdullah | 25-12-00

The lawyer representing a young Briton accused of hacking into
Emirates Telecommunications Corp's (Etisalat) Internet system says he
plans to ask the Public Prosecutor to produce its evidence or drop the
case.

Lee Ashurst, 21, was arrested at his Dubai flat on June 14 and later
charged with the "misuse of equipment, services or facilities provided
by Etisalat" after allegedly being traced as a hacker who crippled the
UAE's Internet system that month.

His lawyer, Dr Habib Al Mulla, says Etisalat has still not produced
any technical evidence against his client, who lost his job, company
car and accomodation after his arrest was made public.

"Etisalat's claims have not been supported by any technical
evidence," he said. "My client is unable to find a job or leave the
country while this is still outstanding, so Etisalat should either go
ahead with the accusation or withdraw."

According to the law, there is no time limit in which the Prosecutor
must decide whether to proceed with a case or reject it. "Generally
speaking, I do not think that there must be a time limit for the
prosecution to take its decision and finish its investigations because
some crimes are difficult to prove," Al Mulla said.

"However, I think six months is a very long period to investigate this
case, especially as Etisalat should have had evidence to support its
claims when they were made."

Attorney-General Ibrahim Bu Melha has said that Etisalat would be
asked to submit a technical report detailing its allegations which
would be passed on to Ashurst's legal team so they could prepare their
defence.

Al Mulla said, "Until now, Etisalat has not submitted any documents to
the Prosecutor, and I will be asking for the case to be proceeded with
immediately or dropped altogether following the Eid holiday."

Etisalat lawyer Hamad Kadfoor Al Mehairi said he was unable to comment
on the case until the Prosecutor's report is released.

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