Hacker stole Maltese company’s website domain and tried selling it for €70,000
He was traced via his IP address to a Gżira flat
A hacker stole a website domain and tried to sell it off before he was caught by police.
On Thursday 24-year old Martin Laurent was accused of stealing the domain from a Maltese company that cannot be named by court order.
He was handed a suspended sentence after pleading guilty.
Forwarding the website ownership rights through two fake email addresses, Laurent put the domain name up for sale for €70,000.
The prosecution said Laurent had not issued ransom to the company.
Following investigations, police tracked the hacker to a Gżira flat via Laurent’s IP address.
With an arrest warrant in one hand, and a search warrant in another, police searched the property finding several phones, laptops and a Flipper Zero, a portable multi-functional hacking device.
They also found a computer tower that was so heavy that two burly police officers were needed to carry it into the courtroom presided by Magistrate Victor Axiak.
Police also submitted other electronic devices to the court.
Following some courtroom haggling, the prosecution and defence lawyer Francoise Dalli agreed on a two year jail term suspended for four years. Laurent will also have to pay a €10,000 fine.