spudda used our news submit to tell us his thoughts on a story from down under: "It seems important that the US Government be able to extradict Griffiths because it is unlikely that he could be found guilty in Australia. But if the Australian Government are to be so willing to give up one of its citizens to get put in jail for breaking the law of a country he has never set foot in then its a sad day indeed."
The Drink or Die gang cracked secrecy codes on US film, music, gameware and software applications long before these were released on the commercial market. Then they downloaded the material and made it available to members of their Internet club. Along came the FBI, which cracked the code-crackers and began criminal prosecutions alleging conspiracy to infringe copyright from 1999 to 2001.
| A NSW Central Coast man accused of heading an Internet piracy gang which plundered $ US 50 million ($ 68million) worth of music, film, game and software products faces the prospect of a US jail term.The Commonwealth DPP last week applied for the extradition to the US of Hew Raymond Griffiths, 42, of Berkeley Vale. They want Griffiths, code-named "Bandido" and allegedly co-leader of the Drink Or Die Internet gang, to face trial for criminal copyright breaches, including a conspiracy charge.But Griffiths is fighting the US move, which has already seen several Internet associates jailed. His lawyer told a Sydney magistrate last week Griffiths "had never set foot in the US", and argued he had committed no crime in Australia. |
The jobless computer expert shares a home with his father, Neil Griffiths. Federal police conducted an early morning raid at their residence about two years ago. This is supposedly the first that the father was made aware of the allegations: "I didn't know what he was doing on the computer," he said. "But it's all a wind-up. Of course I'll stand by my son."
If convicted in the US, he faces a maximum jail term of
10 years and a fine of up to $US500,000 ($ 680,000). Several US members of the
gang are already cooling their heels in prison and more are awaiting their trial
or sentencing. The decision to extradite Hew will be made in aproximately two
weeks.
Source: News.com.au
