NZealand teen mastermind walks free over global cyber crime

A New Zealand teenager who confessed to a central role in a global cyber-crime ring which caused millions of dollars in losses walked free from court Tuesday with police wanting to secure his skills.

Owen Thor Walker, 18, was discharged without conviction after earlier admitting six cyber crime charges.

Both the prosecution and defence lawyers told the High Court in Hamilton, south of Auckland, that New Zealand police were interested in using Walker's skills on the right side of the law.

Judge Judith Potter ordered Walker to pay 14,526 New Zealand dollars (10,980 US) as his share of damage caused to a US university computer and other costs, and made him hand over his computer-related assets to police.