Call for fresh ‘Love Bug’ charges

Philippine investigators want their man

The Philippine Justice Department has been asked to reconsider dropping the charges brought against the former student accused of releasing the 'Love Bug' virus.

The appeal has come form the Philippine National Bureau of Investigation.

Charges of theft and violation of 'access devices' law were dropped against Onel de Guzman two weeks ago because prosecutors believed the charges did not apply to computer hacking. They also felt there was insufficient evidence showing Guzman intended to gain from releasing the virus.

The access device law usually applies to credit card crimes, but according to the Associated Press Frederico Opinion, head of the NBI, said violators of the law don't have to use a credit card.

AP quotes Opinion saying "What seems to be vitally material in this case is that the respondent used an unauthorised access device, which use is prohibited."

The Love Bug virus rapidly replicated itself and collected Internet passwords from infected computers and sent them to several email accounts in the Philippines. Opinion said that stealing passwords showed 'intent to gain.' ®

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