Cyber-stalker jailed in Hong Kong for obscene messages

Apprentice construction worker Ko Kam-fai, 23, began hacking into the e-mail accounts of the two women, aged 22 and 24, in January 1999 using a programme he downloaded from the Internet. Calling himself "Superhacker", he left pornographic pictures and stories. In one sent in April 1999, he posted a message threatening to rape one of his victims, accompanied by a picture of a woman engaged in sex.

Ko appeared in court for sentencing after earlier pleading guilty to eight charges of criminally damaging his victims' computers and two of criminal intimidation. Prosecutor Richard Turnbull described the case as the first "cyber-stalking" case in Hong Kong, saying it had left one student fearing for her safety. The court heard that Hong Kong police sought the help of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation to track down Ko who was using an e-mail account registered in the United States with the company USA.net.

Defence barrister Caesar Lo claimed Ko treated the messages as a "kind of joke" and had not realised he was in trouble until police tracked him down through his Internet account in August 1999. Deputy Judge Andrew Ma was quoted on Hong Kong radio station RTHK as saying he had taken into account Ko's remorse but felt the sentence should reflect the public's disapproval of his crime. He said Ko had failed to respect the dignity and feelings of his victims and that hacking into someone's e-mail account was equal to breaking into someone's home.

(la/dpa)