Dubai 'hacker' appeals case judgement

The British computer consultant last month found guilty of hacking into Etisalat, the United Arab Emirates' only ISP, has appealed against the outcome.

Twenty-two-year-old Lee Ashurst, currently detained in Dubai, was fined just £1900 for the intrusions which disrupted internet traffic to the entire UAE throughout May and June of last year.

But Ashurst, from Oldham, is appealing the fine on the grounds that there are no laws against computer hacking in the UAE.

Ashurst's lawyer, Ali al-Hashimi, said the appeal was on the grounds that "there are no laws that criminalise computer hacking."

A court judgement on the appeal is expected on 15 September.

Ashurst was convicted of "misusing equipment, services or facilties provided by Etisalat" after it was reported that Dubai authorities wanted to make an example of him to deter other acts of computer piracy.

His defence argued that he had been made a scapegoat for the poor performance of Etisalat.

As a result of the case, a federal cabinet committee in the UAE is rushing to introduce cybercrime legislation to bridge the grey areas highlighted by Ashurst's actions.