France denies TV5Monde cyberjihadists leaked defence docs

The hackers cut transmission of the broadcasters 11 channels late on Wednesday for several hours and posted messages on its website, said TV5Monde director, Yves Bigot.

France's defence ministry on Friday dismissed claims by self-proclaimed Islamic State cyberjihadists that they had posted classified army documents online when they hacked into a major television channel.

The militants shut down transmissions at TV5Monde from late Wednesday to Thursday and hijacked its website and social networks, posting documents on its Facebook page purporting to be the ID cards and CVs of relatives of French soldiers involved in anti-IS operations.

But the ministry denied this on Friday after "thorough examination" of the "supposedly confidential" documents.

"None of these documents mention the identity of French soldiers or of their families," it said in a statement.

"The defence ministry categorically denies that those who attacked TV5Monde's broadcasting capabilities published defence-related confidential documents."

The cyberjihadists were able to black out the 11 channels of TV5Monde for several hours, and the station was then forced to broadcast pre-recorded programmes for most of Thursday until it resumed full operations around 6 pm local time.

Authorities said the hack was likely a "terrorist act" and urged media companies to be "vigilant", warning that further attacks could not be ruled out.

The hackers had accused French President Francois Hollande of committing "an unforgivable mistake" by getting involved in "a war that serves no purpose".

"That's why the French received the gifts of Charlie Hebdo and Hyper Cacher in January," they said on the broadcaster's Facebook page, referring to the January attacks in Paris by Islamist gunmen that left 17 people dead including at the satirical magazine and a Jewish supermarket.

France is part of a US-led military coalition carrying out air strikes against IS in Iraq and Syria, where the jihadist group has seized swathes of territory and declared an Islamic "caliphate".

- Source: AFP

Zamani's lawyer to file representation

Zamani was also charged with taking morphine at the Narcotics Criminal Investigation Division office, Ampang Jaya police headquarters at 2.05 am on Jan 21, to which he had pleaded not guilty. 

KUALA LUMPUR: The lawyer representing Zamani Ibrahim, a former vocalist with local group Slam, said he would submit a representation to the Attorney General's Chambers on Monday for the case to be reviewed.

"I am only referring to the charge under Section 12(2) of the Dangerous Drugs Act (DDA) 1952, which is punishable under Section 12(3) of the DDA," counsel Ahmad Zaharil Muhaiyar told the Ampang Magistrate's Court here Friday.

The lawyer is also representing Zamani's personnel assistant Nur Juliana Abdul Rani, who had been charged with the singer.

Magistrate Ayuni Izzaty Sulaiman set May 5 for case management. Deputy public prosecutor Goh Ai Rene appeared for the prosecution.

At the same proceeding, Zamani, 43, and Nur Juliana, 32, claimed trial to an amended joint charge of possession of 0.60 gm of heroin at No 31, Jalan Enggang Timor Satu, Taman Keramat here at 12.30 am last Jan 21.

The charge under Section 12(2), punishable under Section 12(3) of the DDA 1952, and read with Section 34 of the Penal Code, carries a fine of not more than RM100,000 or not more than five years' jail, or both, upon conviction.

Nur Juliana also claimed trial to an amended charge of taking methamphetamine at the Narcotics Criminal Investigation Division office, Ampang Jaya police headquarters at 2.05 am on the same date.

Initially on March 10, the two accused were jointly charged with possession of a higher amount, 1.2 gm of heroin.

Zamani was also charged with taking morphine at the Narcotics Criminal Investigation Division office, Ampang Jaya police headquarters at 2.05 am on Jan 21, to which he had pleaded not guilty.

Nur Juliana was initially charged with taking amphetamine instead of methamphetamine.

The charge under Section 15(1)(a) of the DDA and punishable under Section 15 of the same Act, carries a fine of not more than RM5,000 or not more than two years' jail on conviction.

- Source: Bernama