Gang tries to tap Japanese bank's computers

A GANG of techie bandits plotted to steal £229 million from company accounts by hacking into the Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation computers in London, a court has heard.

In a trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court a jury was told how a security supervisor smuggled a gang of Belgian computer hackers into the bank, to install spy software and use stolen passwords to transfer money to accomplices in Spain, Singapore, Dubai and Hong Kong.

Simon Farrell [any relation? Ed.], QC for the prosecution said the software, "had the effect of recording activities carried out by users in the course of their everyday business at the bank, including log-on names and passwords."

Farrell said that the security supervisor had tried to hide the multiple visits of the hackers by tampering with the closed circuit television systems.

The plot came unstuck when one of the hackers failed to fill in one of the passwords needed for the system to make money transfers.

The bank insider and the hackers have admitted their roles in the scam, but a man accused of arranging the money laundering and two alleged accomplices have denied being part of the plot. µ