First hacker trial powers up in Beijing

An alleged hacker accused of manipulating national exam scores through a computer virus has become Beijing's first man to stand trial on hacking charges.

Meng Lingjian, 30, was charged at Fengtai district court yesterday with destroying a computer information system - a computer-based crime aimed at hackers that was introduced by legislators last year.

Meng, a former member of the technical staff at the Beijing Education Examination Authority, admitted yesterday he gained access to the authority's database via a Trojan virus program from his home computer in south Beijing's Fengtai district. But he denied he developed the virus program himself.