It is not often you can help steal $20 million and walk out of court a free man.But that is exactly what Owen Thor Walker, 18, a resident from New Zealand did this week.
After confessing to being the mastermind in a global cyber-crime ring where hackers used his programmes to access personal data, send viruses around the world and commit other crimes causing $20 million of losses, Walker was discharged without conviction because New Zealand police were interested in using his skills on the right side of the law.
International investigators considered Walker's programming to be amongst the most advanced in the world they had encountered.
His software allowed access to user names and passwords, as well as credit card details.
Walker's grand plan took on the world and involved several law enforcement agencies including the New Zealand police, the FBI, the United States Secret Service and Dutch authorities.
The surprising aspect of all this was that Walker, known as "Akill", benefited to the tune of only $40,000 for his central role.
When you consider the judge fined him $11,250, he received below the average wage of New Zealand.
I suppose now that he has a job with the New Zealand police he will be asking for a pay rise.
