By Hani M. Bathish
LAWYERS representing Lee Ashurst, the young Briton accused of hacking into Etisalat's Internet computer system earlier this year, yesterday said that the Dubai prosecution had decided to postpone looking into a criminal case filed by them against Etisalat and its CEO, Ali Al Owais, for slander and defamation, till the disposal of the criminal case filed against Mr Ashurst. The 21-year-old computer network technician could face a maximum of six months in prison or a Dh10,000 fine if he is convicted of 'misuse of Etisalat's equipment, services and facilities'.
A spokesperson for Ashurst's lawyer, Dr Habib Al Mulla, told Khaleej Times: "Whether Lee committed the crime he is being accused of or not, has nothing to do with the slander and defamation case. The case has been filed against Etisalat and Mr Al Owais for statements made about our client during a Press conference in which Mr Al Owais made baseless and slanderous accusations about our client."
He said that as far as he knew an independent panel of experts to examine the technical evidence in the case had not yet been set up, nor had Etisalat presented its technical report, despite repeated requests made by Ashurst's lawyers.
The spokesperson, however, said that a compensation case filed in a civil court against both Etisalat and its CEO was proceeding.
"As far as we know Lee's case was referred in mid-July to a forensic lab to examine our client's laptop computer, but nothing was mentioned about examining Etisalat's computer system. I have no idea how they will prove that Lee actually penetrated Etisalat's computer network through an examination of his laptop," the spokesperson said. Lee Ashurst is currently living with a friend of his mother and he cannot leave the country or take up an employment. "For Etisalat this is just an ongoing case in the courts, they are not affected; but our client is the one who is hurt most by this delay," the spokesperson said.
The next hearing for the compensation case has been scheduled for September 23.