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The Big Breach - Index of

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<strong>The</strong> <strong>Big</strong> <strong>Breach</strong>; From Top Secret to Maximum SecurityCompliments <strong>of</strong> http://www.192.comextend the garde en vue. You will probably be released as you havebroken no French law.' I kept my fingers crossed.Gruignard came to my cell an hour later to say that the judge had giventhem permission to hold me for a further 24 hours. My spirits had beenreasonably high until then, but the news that they would not release mehit hard. Gruignard told me that they still had not been able todecrypt the files in my computer and they would not release me untilthey were cracked. `But it is impossible to crack PGP encryption,' Iretorted in French. `Breaking it would take a Cray supercomputer atleast six months!'`Alors, donnez-nous le mot de passe,' replied Gruignard. <strong>The</strong>y wereblackmailing me: no password, no release.Fortunately, Gruignard was bluffing. At about 2200, Broisniard andGruignard had had enough and came to my cell with broad smiles. `Youare free,' Broisniard announced. `You have broken no French law.'`So if I broke no French law, why did you arrest me?' I askedfuriously.`<strong>The</strong> English asked,' shrugged Broisniard. `<strong>The</strong>y said that you were aterrorist and dangerous. That is why we beat you up,' he continued,matter-<strong>of</strong>-factly.`Can I see the warrant?' I demanded.`You're free without charges, why do you want to see that?' heretorted.`<strong>The</strong> English want your computers,' Gruignard said, changing thesubject. He showed me my Psion and brand new laptop, smothered in redsealing wax and string, ready to be sent <strong>of</strong>f to London for examination.(I did not see them again for five months, despite energetic recoveryattempts by Anne-Sophie Levy, a young Parisian lawyer who volunteeredto represent me. It wasn't until Christmas 1998 that she rang me totell me that SB had finally agreed to return them. <strong>The</strong>y did not findanything illegal on either computer and did not charge me with any<strong>of</strong>fence. SB posted them back to me, but although my laptop came backunharmed, exasperatingly, my Psion, containing most <strong>of</strong> my importantpersonal information, never arrived. SB claimed that it must have been`lost in the post'.)`Je veux parler avec les anglais cons,' I demanded to Broisniard,intent on giving Ratcliffe and Whaley a piece <strong>of</strong> my mind.`<strong>The</strong>y've gone down the Pigalle,' he replied with a smirk. I consideredgoing to the notorious red-light district with a camera to look forthem, but settled for a good night's sleep. Broisniard and Groignardled me out to the car, at last without handcuffs, and drove me round toa nearby cheap hotel. <strong>The</strong>y handed over my NZ passport with theexplanation that the British had picked it up from the embassy for meand even shook hands as they left me in the lobby.With little sleep the whole weekend, my instinct was to crash out butthere was work to be done. Adverse publicity for MI6 would be the bestpage- 211 - To purchase the original limited edition hardback version <strong>of</strong> this bookplease call 08000 192 192 or go to http://www.192.com

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