Government official prevents extradition of Gary McKinnon, accused hacker
Home Secretary Blocks Extradition of Gary McKinnon
In a landmark decision, Home Secretary Theresa May has blocked the extradition of 46-year-old Gary McKinnon to the United States. McKinnon, a British citizen, is accused of hacking into 97 US government computer networks between 2001 and 2002, affecting networks owned by NASA, the US Army, US Navy, Department of Defence, and the US Air Force.
The alleged hacking occurred using a self-written Perl script and a remote access program, with McKinnon admitting to the hacking but denying causing any damage. The estimated damage caused by McKinnon's actions is around $900,000.
May has carefully considered the representations made on McKinnon's behalf, including from a number of clinicians. She has concluded that McKinnon's extradition would be incompatible with his human rights due to the high risk of him ending his life. This risk was further emphasised in her statement to the House of Commons, where she stated that McKinnon's extradition would increase the risk of him committing suicide.
McKinnon's human rights would be violated by extradition due to his Asperger's syndrome and serious illness, May added. If extradited and convicted in the US, McKinnon would have faced up to 60 years in jail.
The legal question before May is whether the extent of McKinnon's illness is sufficient to preclude extradition. The decision on whether McKinnon can stand trial in a UK court now lies with the director of public prosecutions, but the name of this individual remains undisclosed.
Throughout the 10-year case, McKinnon has maintained that he was looking for evidence of UFOs during the hacking incidents. Prior to this decision, McKinnon had held several IT positions within firms.
This case has been deemed difficult and exceptional by May, marking a significant turning point in the long-standing legal battle for McKinnon.
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