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21 May, 2010 13:08

UK’s new govt. puts autistic hacker’s extradition to US on hold

Britain's new government has given a reprieve to Gary McKinnon, the Scottish computer hacker facing extradition to the US.

McKinnon is accused of breaking into the Pentagon and NASA networks in 2001 and 2002, causing damage that cost the US almost a million dollars to repair.

The 44-year-old hacker has been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome – a type of autistic disorder.

Now, the UK Home Secretary Theresa May has halted the extradition process, which was started by the previous government, and ordered a review of the extradition law.

Melanie Riley, the spokesperson for the Free Gary campaign hailed the move by the new government.

“People who support Gary have absolutely no problem with his case being properly investigated and all the evidence being put before a British court. What we do have a problem with is sending him thousands and thousands of miles away from all of his support, his friends and family to face the same trial, because ultimately he would not cope with that. All the medical experts have shown that he is on the brink of suicide and we just think that that is utterly disproportionate, especially when we a have a perfectly judicial system in UK,” Riley told RT.

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