Cyber crime suspect to be released from jail

  • 2013-10-10
  • TBT Staff

RIGA - Cyber crime suspect Deniss Calovskis will be released from Riga Central Prison, reports LETA.
Cavlovskis is alleged to have created a virus that infected over a million computers worldwide, including many at NASA, and that allowed hackers to steal millions of dollars from victims’ bank accounts.

One of Calovskis’ attorneys, Ilona Bulgakova said that she called Riga Central Prison’s Registration Department on Oct. 10, which confirmed that a document had been received from the Prosecutor General’s Office, signed by prosecutor Marcis Vilums, ordering Calovskis released from the prison.

Bulgakova said she was genuinely pleased at this decision, claiming that Calovskis’ imprisonment was unjustified.

On the other hand, attorney Saulvedis Varpins told LETA that he had received a letter from the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) earlier this week, stating that Latvia had been asked to present its explanations regarding Calovskis’ case by Nov. 25. This means that the ECHR would not be able to review Calovskis’ case by Dec. 4, when he would have to be released from prison all the same, said Varpins.

The government decided on Aug. 6 to extradite Calovskis to the United States; however, his attorneys turned to the ECHR, claiming that the extradition be put on hold until Calovskis’ case is reviewed by the court. The ECHR halted the extradition process.

According to the law, a person suspected of a crime may be held in custody for up to one year. Calovskis was detained on Dec. 4 last year; therefore, theoretically, he must be released by Dec. 3.