Two Chinese students, following a course at the University of Malta, were yesterday charged with hacking internet accounts, utilising other people’s internet hours and bandwidth to download PlayStation games and films.

Jiahui Wu, 21 and Da Lian, 22, pleaded guilty to hacking over 40 internet accounts of various Internet Service Providers and stealing other people’s bandwidth to download items off the internet.

Before magistrate Antonio Mizzi, the Chinese students, following the Bachelor of Commerce course at the university, pleaded guilty to the charges brought against them.

Defence lawyer Shazoo Ghaznavi informed the court that his clients had an exam a few hours after their appearance in court. Magistrate Mizzi ordered for them to be remanded in custody pending the judgement.

However, the magistrate gave them permission to sit for their university examinations under police escort.

Police inspectors Angelo Gafa and Paul Caruana prosecuted.