A murder trial in Malaysia has been suspended after computers at the High Court in the city of Shah Alam were hit by a computer virus.
Justice Datuk Syed Ahmad Helmy Syed Ahmad was due to sentence Irwan Amat, a 31-year-old car repossesser, on Thursday over the killing of labourer Jibal Salim, 34, five years ago but the trial was halted after a virus infected a computer in the court, erasing valuable data.
“I’m sorry that I have to give another date for the decision. It is unfortunate that my secretary’s computer was attacked by virus and data was wiped out,” he told the accused.
Irwan, is accused of killing Jibal at the parking lot of Blok Cempaka, Country Homes, Rawang, at 9.45pm on Oct 16, 2003, allegedly stabbing his victim repeatedly with a knife.
The decision has now been set for March 30, with the offence carrying the death penalty under Malaysian law.
It’s not the first time that a court has been caught out by a computer virus however.
Back in February of this year, Houston Municipal Court in Texas was forced to stop operations after around 400 computers were hit with the W32/Virut.n virus.
