Judge rejects damages claim for computer attack

A judge has found damage from attacks by a Dunedin academic on his former employer's computer system amounted to $8290, not US$441,122.50 ($627,753.66) as claimed by the e-commerce company.

In March last year, the 38-year-old defendant admitted three Crimes Act charges of intentionally interfering with, and causing to be deleted, data in the Oregon-based company Buy Music Here's computer system in November and December 2003.

His counsel, Judith Ablett-Kerr QC, told the court she would be seeking a discharge without conviction for the man who disputed the number of successful "attacks" and the cost to the company, claimed by BMH at that stage to be US$457,725.

That figure was amended to US$441,122.50 before a five-day hearing of the disputed facts at the end of last September.

In his decision in Dunedin District Court yesterday, Judge Gary MacAskill said the amount of damage he had found proved was $8290.

His written decision was released to counsel in the case but not to the media.

The man was granted continued name suppression and remanded on continued bail until July 1 for sentence.

- nzpa