On October 11, a photo was posted on Instagram showing Algerian rapper Didin Canon 16 alongside Hamza Bendelladj, the notorious Algerian hacker recently returned home after serving his sentence in the United States.
The post sparked widespread engagement on social media, drawing attention from both Algerian and Arab news outlets. Some celebrated Bendelladj's return, claiming he had been imprisoned for "hacking Israeli and American banks and donating a portion of the stolen money to the Palestinian cause."
Why Was Hamza Bendelladj Arrested and How Did It Happen?
In January 2013, Hamza Bendelladj was arrested at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport while en route from Malaysia to Egypt with his wife and daughter.
What stood out was his calm demeanor. He smiled as he was led, handcuffed, into the airport detention center and again during a press conference at Bangkok’s Immigration Police headquarters. Bendelladj even questioned the accuracy of Thai authorities' claims that his name appeared on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list.
At the time, Thai police revealed that Bendelladj was suspected of hacking into more than 217 banks and financial institutions worldwide. Further investigations uncovered that he had developed, distributed, and used the malware SpyEye, which infected over 50 million computers between 2010 and 2012. This malware enabled him to steal login credentials for 200,000 credit card accounts and siphon off massive amounts of money.
The FBI eventually tracked Bendelladj after he sold a copy of his malware to an undercover agent posing as a buyer, identified as Mark Ray, for $8,500. This marked the end of a three-year pursuit of the hacker.
Following his arrest, Thai authorities extradited Bendelladj to Georgia in the United States, where a court had issued a warrant for his arrest in 2011.
Bendelladj’s Lawyer Denies Claims of Stolen Money Donations To Palestinian Charities
In April 2016, Bendelladj's lawyer, Jay Strongwater, denied widespread rumors that his client had donated millions of dollars from stolen money to Palestinian charities.
Speaking to Al Jazeera English, Strongwater clarified that Bendelladj had cooperated with U.S. authorities and expressed regret for his actions. The Associated Press also reported that Bendelladj assured the judge he had "learned his lesson" and would not repeat his crimes.
In June 2015, Bendelladj pleaded guilty to 23 charges, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, bank fraud, computer fraud, and 11 counts of computer abuse.
Misbar found that, after reviewing the sentencing memorandum containing evidence of the conviction, the thefts Bendelladj was involved in targeted banks worldwide, contrary to claims that they only affected Israeli and American banks.
What Did Hamza Bendelladj Spend His Stolen Millions On?
Following his arrest at Bangkok Airport in 2013, Thai investigators asked the Algerian hacker what he had done with the $100 million he had stolen. According to Thai Immigration Police Chief Pharnu Kirdlarphon, Bendelladj responded that he spent the money on a life of luxury, traveling the world, flying first class, and staying at exclusive resorts.
U.S. Court Sentences Hamza Bendelladj to 15 Years in Prison
On April 20, 2016, a U.S. court in Georgia sentenced Hamza Bendelladj to 15 years in prison after convicting him on 23 charges. His accomplice, Russian hacker Alexander Panin, received a shorter sentence of nine years. Unlike Bendelladj, Panin did not use the SpyEye malware to steal money directly; he only contributed to its development, promotion, and distribution to other hackers for financial gain.
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