Malaysian duo to face charges in US

KUALA LUMPUR: Two Malaysians sought by the US for conspiring with Chinese nationals in hacking the network of over 100 US-based companies will face extradition to facilitate investigations into the case.

Federal police CID director Comm Datuk Huzir Mohamed said yesterday a joint team comprising personnel from the CID, Interpol, Special Branch, commercial crimes investigations department and forensics unit had arrested the two men in Perak on Monday.

The suspects, a businessman in his 40s and a computer analyst in his 30s, are being sought by US authorities on suspicion of money-laundering and online crimes.

Huzir said they were conducting an illegal gaming artifacts business.

“Forensics police have seized documents and other items at the company’s premises.”

He said US authorities had applied for extradition of the two on Sept 3, and the Attorney-General’s Chambers had agreed to the application, in line with provisions under the Extradition Act and an extradition treaty between Malaysia and the United States.

He said prior to the arrests, the Kuala Lumpur magistrate’s court had issued a provisional warrant of arrest for the two men.

Huzir said the suspects are currently being held at the Sungai Buloh Prison on a 60-day remand order under provisions of the Extradition Act and the extradition treaty between both countries.

It was reported yesterday that the suspects and five Chinese nationals were charged by the US Justice Department for hacking into hundreds of US online networks, mainly targeting the video game industry. – by Charles Ramendran