The National Police’s cybercrime division apprehended Adi Syafitrah, 28, for allegedly hacking and defacing the Indonesian Press Council’s website on May 31.
he National Police’s cybercrime division apprehended Adi Syafitrah, 28, for allegedly hacking and defacing the Indonesian Press Council’s website on May 31.
“He was apprehended at a hotel in Sukoharjo, Central Java where he worked as a housekeeper,” said Sr. Comr. Himawan Bayu Aji, cybercrime division chief, on Friday.
He added that Adi told the police he had hacked into around 100 Indonesian websites and others based elsewhere since 2013. According to the police investigation, the suspect’s motive was to gain recognition.
“There is suspicion that he defaced the website for recognition in the hacking community,” Himawan said.
Police have yet to determine whether financial losses were incurred from the hacking, as Adi reportedly told the police he did not retrieve any data from the website. However, Himawan said the press council might have experienced losses when its website was inaccessible due to Adi’s alleged hacking.
Several pieces of evidence were confiscated during the arrest, including the suspect’s ID, a laptop and wireless modem. The cybercrime unit is collecting more evidence from digital forensics.
Adi could be charged under Article 50 of the 1999 law on telecommunications, which carries a maximum punishment of six years in prison and a fine of Rp 600 million (US$ 45,126). He could also be charged under Article 32 of the 2016 Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law, which carries a maximum punishment of eight years’ imprisonment and a Rp 2 billion fine. (kuk/dmr)
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