Quote:Why were the computers of an innocent citizen confiscated?

During the three months' investigation which resulted in the apprehension of a suspect of breaking into the MapleStory game servers, computers and CDs of an innocent citizen were also confiscated. Alef (the man's initial) describes improper behavior of the Israeli Police. The Police: we are investigating the incident.

On the noon of a Wedensday in August, Alef received a telephone call from his wife, telling him there were policemen in his home, holding a search warrant allowing them to confiscate equipment. Alef hurried home, and only after the police seized two computers and 43 CDs and took him in for questioning, he found out that he was suspected of computer crime.

For three months, investigators of the fraud unit in the police's central district have been attempting to find out who broke into the servers of the online game MapleStory. Last week, the suspect was arrested - an 11th grade student who confessed his actions - but on the way to solving the mystery, the police visited Alef - who had nothing to do with it.

What does a Police ID look like?

"My wife called and said there were policemen in the house, with a warrant," Alef told Ynet (online newspaper). "They would not say what we were accused of, only said it was computer crime." Alef also says that after he left work and until he got home, the police were impolite to his wife, wouldn't let her play music or close the house door, saying it would interfere with the investigation.

"They were not in uniform and didn't come in a police car," says Alef. He adds that they would not let his wife closely examine their police IDs to note their names and ID numbers, even though she said she'd never seen a police ID and wanted to see it up close and write the details. In response, says Alef, the policeman told her, "You're starting to annoy me."

Two computers and 43 CDs.

After about half an hour, Alef came home and examined the warrant. He says he has checked and found out it was in order. However, the copy of the warrant, which the policemen let him keep, is lacking some details: the name of the judge signing the order is missing, under "the reason for issuing the warrant" it only says "in investigation file" with no details, and furthermore the items that may be seized were not listed.

Alef asked again whether the policeman would tell him what he was suspected of, and in response the policeman said he will give him the details during his questioning. "I asked if he was arresting me, and he said, 'No, I am asking you (to come). But if you don't - we have our ways of taking you in." After consulting with his wife, Alef decided to cooperate with the police. "I preferred to have the entire unpleasantness out of the house," he explains.

The policemen seized a notebook computer, a desktop computer, original CDs and 43 CDs of Alef's personal materials - pictures and documents. Alef says he asked the policemen whether they wanted the Windows installation disc, to verify it's a legal copy. In response, says Alef, the policeman laughed and say, "You think I'd come here for that?"

During half an hour of questioning, Alef was shown screenshots of MapleStory, and quizzed about his programming abilities. After a short check of each of his computers, Alef was told he may go home, and got his computers back.

"It is not a problem that citizens fear police."

It is entirely possible that in investigations of this type, dealing with network and technology, the police will reach people unrelated to the issue. Whether due to technical glitches, an incorrect identification of IP address from the ISP that leads to one client instead of another, or a purposeful evasion by the criminal covering his tracks. The police showed him the warrant and also told him his rights during questioning. Also, Alef went home immediately after questioning, and took all his unharmed equipment back home.

However, the police should put more effort into locating the right suspects, and avoid harassing citizens. Alef feels hurt by the experience he underwent, the entering of his home, and the fact that he received no apology from the police, two months later, when the real suspect was caught and confessed. When he was told he could leave, and told the policeman his wife was afraid of the cops in her home, Alef said the policeman told him he is not bothered by citizens fearing police. So they think twice before doing anything. Later he tried to explain he was only kidding.

Alef detailed his tale in a letter sent to the chief of police, about a week after the incident. On September 11 he recieved a letter from an officer of the Public Complaints department, saying that the incident is being investigated, but he has not received any further reply from the police, not even a request for more details.

Responses

The speaker of the courts says: "The original request for the warrant contains all the missing details. By mistake, the warrant was issued without them. As for the copy Alef received, please talk to the police office speaker."

The Police says: "The police acted lawfully in this case. The warrant was issued by the court. Right now the case is under investigation. When the investigation is complete, Alef will receive detailed answers to all his question."

Combattente Wrote:Epic failure.

Quote:Why were the computers of an innocent citizen confiscated?

During the three months' investigation which resulted in the apprehension of a suspect of breaking into the MapleStory game servers, computers and CDs of an innocent citizen were also confiscated. Alef (the man's initial) describes improper behavior of the Israeli Police. The Police: we are investigating the incident.

On the noon of a Wedensday in August, Alef received a telephone call from his wife, telling him there were policemen in his home, holding a search warrant allowing them to confiscate equipment. Alef hurried home, and only after the police seized two computers and 43 CDs and took him in for questioning, he found out that he was suspected of computer crime.

For three months, investigators of the fraud unit in the police's central district have been attempting to find out who broke into the servers of the online game MapleStory. Last week, the suspect was arrested - an 11th grade student who confessed his actions - but on the way to solving the mystery, the police visited Alef - who had nothing to do with it.

What does a Police ID look like?

"My wife called and said there were policemen in the house, with a warrant," Alef told Ynet (online newspaper). "They would not say what we were accused of, only said it was computer crime." Alef also says that after he left work and until he got home, the police were impolite to his wife, wouldn't let her play music or close the house door, saying it would interfere with the investigation.

"They were not in uniform and didn't come in a police car," says Alef. He adds that they would not let his wife closely examine their police IDs to note their names and ID numbers, even though she said she'd never seen a police ID and wanted to see it up close and write the details. In response, says Alef, the policeman told her, "You're starting to annoy me."

Two computers and 43 CDs.

After about half an hour, Alef came home and examined the warrant. He says he has checked and found out it was in order. However, the copy of the warrant, which the policemen let him keep, is lacking some details: the name of the judge signing the order is missing, under "the reason for issuing the warrant" it only says "in investigation file" with no details, and furthermore the items that may be seized were not listed.

Alef asked again whether the policeman would tell him what he was suspected of, and in response the policeman said he will give him the details during his questioning. "I asked if he was arresting me, and he said, 'No, I am asking you (to come). But if you don't - we have our ways of taking you in." After consulting with his wife, Alef decided to cooperate with the police. "I preferred to have the entire unpleasantness out of the house," he explains.

The policemen seized a notebook computer, a desktop computer, original CDs and 43 CDs of Alef's personal materials - pictures and documents. Alef says he asked the policemen whether they wanted the Windows installation disc, to verify it's a legal copy. In response, says Alef, the policeman laughed and say, "You think I'd come here for that?"

During half an hour of questioning, Alef was shown screenshots of MapleStory, and quizzed about his programming abilities. After a short check of each of his computers, Alef was told he may go home, and got his computers back.

"It is not a problem that citizens fear police."

It is entirely possible that in investigations of this type, dealing with network and technology, the police will reach people unrelated to the issue. Whether due to technical glitches, an incorrect identification of IP address from the ISP that leads to one client instead of another, or a purposeful evasion by the criminal covering his tracks. The police showed him the warrant and also told him his rights during questioning. Also, Alef went home immediately after questioning, and took all his unharmed equipment back home.

However, the police should put more effort into locating the right suspects, and avoid harassing citizens. Alef feels hurt by the experience he underwent, the entering of his home, and the fact that he received no apology from the police, two months later, when the real suspect was caught and confessed. When he was told he could leave, and told the policeman his wife was afraid of the cops in her home, Alef said the policeman told him he is not bothered by citizens fearing police. So they think twice before doing anything. Later he tried to explain he was only kidding.

Alef detailed his tale in a letter sent to the chief of police, about a week after the incident. On September 11 he recieved a letter from an officer of the Public Complaints department, saying that the incident is being investigated, but he has not received any further reply from the police, not even a request for more details.

Responses

The speaker of the courts says: "The original request for the warrant contains all the missing details. By mistake, the warrant was issued without them. As for the copy Alef received, please talk to the police office speaker."

The Police says: "The police acted lawfully in this case. The warrant was issued by the court. Right now the case is under investigation. When the investigation is complete, Alef will receive detailed answers to all his question."

Orit Wrote:Nexon has nothing to do with this. The Fail in this case belongs to the Israeli Police.

Here's my attempt at a translation:



In short, mistaken identity. The police treated him with customary ham-handedness, but it hardly counts as police brutality. And, as I said before, Nexon has absolutely nothing to do with it.

Orit Wrote:Nexon has nothing to do with this. The Fail in this case belongs to the Israeli Police.

Here's my attempt at a translation:



In short, mistaken identity. The police treated him with customary ham-handedness, but it hardly counts as police brutality. And, as I said before, Nexon has absolutely nothing to do with it.

Orit Wrote:Nexon has nothing to do with this. The Fail in this case belongs to the Israeli Police.

Here's my attempt at a translation:



In short, mistaken identity. The police treated him with customary ham-handedness, but it hardly counts as police brutality. And, as I said before, Nexon has absolutely nothing to do with it.

pakiboy Wrote:What seems to be a police officer an ID?

Flowsion Wrote:I LOL'd. Imagine being pineappleing raided and shown pictures of Maplestory and asked if you know it.