Teen wi-fi network thief gets probation

A TEEN FROM Singapore who admitted tapping into his neighbour's wi-fi connection escaped jail and was sentenced to 18 months probation and 80 hours community service.

According to Associated Press, Garyl Tan Jia Luo, 17, was told that he could have gone to jail for linking his computer to his neighbour's wireless router without asking.

A probation report said that at the time of the offence Tan had few friends and was addicted to Internet gaming.

Senior District Judge Bala Reddy said Tan needed a "disciplined and structured psychiatric and psychological intervention" to cure his addiction.

Illegally tapping into a wireless internet network is an offence under the Computer Misuse Act,in Singapore and Tan is the first person to be prosecuted.

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