Michael Kidder, wanted by the FBI, will not be extradited to the United States • The reason is the lack of a clear American promise to take into account his poor mental state • The meaning: Kidder will continue to stay in Norway in a therapeutic setting • His lawyer to N12: “We will file a request for a retrial in Israel as well” • First publication
The court in Norway ruled today (Friday) that Michael Kidder known as “the hacker from Ashkelon” should not be extradited to the United States. According to the court’s decision, Norway will not extradite the accused Kidar to the US where he is wanted by the FBI, among other things because there is a real risk of violating his human rights, because he cannot stay in prison in his serious mental state. The court noted that no clear promise was given by the US that Kidar would receive adequate medical treatment. The decision means that Kidar will continue to stay in Norway in a therapeutic setting, but nevertheless it is very possible that the USA will file an appeal against the decision.
According to the decision of the Norwegian District Court, which is the highest court in such matters in the country, if Kidar receives an additional prison sentence it may be a double punishment, because he has already been convicted in Israel for some of the crimes he committed and even served a prison sentence. Kidar served 7 years in prison in Israel, after being convicted of threats and extortion against Jewish institutions in the USA.
Lawyer Nir Yaslovich, who represents Kidar, said in response toN12 that “The district court in Norway determined what should have been determined in Israel. Michael Kidder is not fit to stand trial, and has never been fit to stand trial.” He clarified that “his extradition will put him in tangible and real danger to his life. Unfortunately, the court in Israel previously sentenced my client to an unprecedented punishment, but soon a request will also be submitted for a retrial in Israel, so that justice will be seen and done, based on clear findings determined in Norway, by experts of stature.”
Kidar earned the nickname “The Hacker from Ashkelon” after he threatened airports, airplanes, hospitals and Jewish centers in the USA – until he was captured by the detectives of Lahav 433’s cyber unit, who defined him as “a computer genius who taught himself everything”. Following the threats he used to make and call airlines with a distorted voice warning about bombs on planes – the American FBI is on his trail, and these days a trial is underway against him In the highest legal court that can be filed in Norway, to which he tried to escape after suffering from paranoia following the time he spent in an Israeli prison.
One of the largest intelligence organizations in the world was convinced that the person behind the thousands of threatening conversations in such a sophisticated manner is a terrorist organization that specializes in cyber, but when they found out that a 15-year-old boy from Ashkelon was the one who eluded them – the embarrassment in the organization was huge, and reached Donald Trump’s desk.
The FBI decided to send an investigator to Israel, and with the approval of the court and the Kidar family, the tapes of the investigation were broadcast exclusively on “The Central Edition”. In the recordings, Kidar is seen in distress and defends his version in which he shreds that he did not commit any crime and completely denied it, but the Israeli and American investigators are putting pressure on him to get a confession from him.