An Indian-origin man charged with hacking three official websites, including those of the Singapore premier's office and the presidential palace, was today denied bail by a court here.
James Raj Arokiasamy, 35, was charged on November 12 with hacking the Ang Mo Kio district website, whose MPs include Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, and posting the image of a Guy Fawkes Mask used by Anonymous - a global network of hackers.
He has been accused of accessing the website from an apartment in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur on October 28.
District judge Soh Tze Bian today said James Raj should not be granted bail because he previously jumped bail and fled to Malaysia after being slapped with illegal drugs consumption charges in 2011.
"If not for the efforts of Malaysian police, he'd still be in Malaysia," the The Straits Times quoted the judge as saying.
Arokiasamy had allegedly accessed the council's content management system and modified the website. He also allegedly added a banner that he signed as "The Messiah".
Besides a charge under the Computer Misuse and Cybersecurity Act, Arokiasamy faces three prior drug charges.
He was accused of consuming drugs in May 2011.
A recent Singapore law, requiring news websites to obtain annual licences, have sparked anger among bloggers and activists who say they are designed to muzzle free expression.
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