Autistic Briton can be extradited to US on hacking charges – Court
LONDON: A London court on Friday approved the extradition of an autistic British man to the United States to face trial for hacking high-security state computers, despite warnings he might kill himself if sent to a US jail.
Lauri Love, 31, who has Asperger’s syndrome, is accused of involvement in a series of hacks in 2012 and 2013 into computers at agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation( FBI ), the US army, the Missile Defense Agency and the Federal Reserve.
He faces a lifetime in prison in the United States if found guilty, a fate which he has said could lead him to taking his own life.
“If you’re here for justice, you missed it,” he said quietly as he emerged from the defendants’ box in court after the verdict was announced.
US authorities say Love was connected to Anonymous, an international group of hackers, and argued his actions had caused millions of dollars’ worth of damage.
“I accept Mr Love suffers from both physical and mental health issues but I have found the medical facilities in the United States prison estate ... are such that I can be satisfied his needs will be comprehensively met by the US authorities,” judge Nina Tempia said in her ruling.
Love’s US lawyer Tor Ekeland said the US penal system would “crush” his client who suffers episodes of depression and psychosis.
“They want to destroy him because they want to use him as an example,” Ekeland told Reuters.
The judge’s decision must be agreed by Britain’s Home Secretary (interior minister) and Love’s lawyers said they would launch an appeal if it was ratified. — Reuters