Review backs hacker extradition
Source: Agencies |
October 19, 2011, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
An extradition treaty with the US is not biased against UK criminal suspects, a judge-led review said yesterday, dealing a blow to campaigners fighting to stop a computer hacker being sent to stand trial in the US.
The UK launched the review last month following complaints the 2003 treaty made it easier to extradite people from the UK to the US than vice versa.
Gary McKinnon has been battling for six years to avoid extradition to the US for what US officials called the "biggest military computer hack of all time."
McKinnon, 45, has Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism, and his supporters say he is too frail to be sent for trial in the US. He faces charges that could lead to a 70-year jail sentence.
The review, led by retired judge Scott Baker, said criticism of the treaty was based on misunderstanding.
"The UK-US extradition arrangements were examined in great detail and the panel concluded the widespread perception they operate in an imbalanced manner is not justified," it said.
"There is no practical difference between the information required of both countries when requesting extradition."
The panel also rejected calls for the government to implement legislation that would allow a suspect wanted for extradition to be tried in the UK when the alleged crime was committed in the UK - as was the case when McKinnon hacked into computer systems, including those at the Pentagon and NASA, from his home in London.
McKinnon is alleged to have caused US$900,000 damage.
The UK launched the review last month following complaints the 2003 treaty made it easier to extradite people from the UK to the US than vice versa.
Gary McKinnon has been battling for six years to avoid extradition to the US for what US officials called the "biggest military computer hack of all time."
McKinnon, 45, has Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism, and his supporters say he is too frail to be sent for trial in the US. He faces charges that could lead to a 70-year jail sentence.
The review, led by retired judge Scott Baker, said criticism of the treaty was based on misunderstanding.
"The UK-US extradition arrangements were examined in great detail and the panel concluded the widespread perception they operate in an imbalanced manner is not justified," it said.
"There is no practical difference between the information required of both countries when requesting extradition."
The panel also rejected calls for the government to implement legislation that would allow a suspect wanted for extradition to be tried in the UK when the alleged crime was committed in the UK - as was the case when McKinnon hacked into computer systems, including those at the Pentagon and NASA, from his home in London.
McKinnon is alleged to have caused US$900,000 damage.
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