IS-linked Kosovo hacking expert still under investigation - IGP

Investigations into a Kosovo national Islamic State (IS) hacking expert, who was arrested here on Sept 15 is still underway before extradition to the United States (US).

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said this was to enable the Malaysian police to look closely at several issues pertaining to the 20-year-old suspect to complete the investigation.

On when the foreigner would be extradited, he said: "It depends on the process that needs to be done before he can be extradited to the US."

He was speaking to reporters at the opening of a three-day, 4th Asian Police Equipment Exhibition and Conferences Asia 2015 here, beginning Wednesday.

A member of IS, the computer server hacking expert was picked up by the Special Branch Counter Terrorism Division in a special operation here.

The suspect entered Malaysia in August last year to pursue computer science and computer forensic courses at a private institution of higher learning.

Investigations showed he was in touch with a senior IS leader in Syria to hack servers containing details on the members of the US' security forces which were channelled to the operations division of IS for follow-up action.

In the beginning, the suspect was placed under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012. He was then detained via a temporary warrant of arrest issued by the court and is now being detained under the Extradition Act 1992 while waiting for the extradition proceeding to the US be completed.

During the ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi also launched an electronic monitoring device (EMD) system which could be installed on the legs of criminals for a stipulated period to monitor their movements.

Earlier in a statement, Zahid said 107 people had been detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2015, adding that if they had to be freed but needed to be monitored, they would be tagged with an EMD.

Freed criminals would also be tagged with EMD if they had to be monitored under the Prevention of Crime Act 2013.