Police in Denmark have arrested a 24-year-old Danish citizen in the city of Vejle, Denmark in relation to a persistent online attack targeting an Auckland school girl.
Operation Cavern is a joint investigation between the New Zealand Police, the Danish National Cyber Crime Centre (NC3) and the South-East Jutland Police.
The man has been arrested and charged with cybercrimes relating to the online posting of private photos and hacking of private computers under Danish law.
A New Zealand Police spokesman said the New Zealand Police Cybercrime Unit had worked closely with international law enforcement partners to bring this offender to account for his actions.
The man will be brought before the Court of Kolding Town in a closed hearing where a pre-trial detention will be requested.
In a statement, the prosecutor of South-East Jutland Police, Niels Tipsmark, commented:
”This case is characterized by a close cooperation between South-East Jutland Police, NC3, and the New Zealand Police. The cooperation with a country on the other side of the world has been smooth, mutual and fruitful. Due to the closed doors hearing, we cannot disclose further information about the case at this time”.
Detective Senior Sergeant Cliff Clark of the New Zealand Police Cybercrime Unit agreed that the investigation demonstrated the value of effective co-operation with overseas law enforcement partners:
“This was particularly distressing experience for the victim and her family and we are pleased for them that we have been able work successfully with the Danish authorities in making an arrest.”
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Media please note that Detective Senior Sergeant Cliff Clark will not be doing interviews on this investigation given the ongoing judicial process now underway in Denmark.
Issued by Grant Ogilvie, PNHQ media team, NZ Police.