A Kazakh-born man accused of working with Russian intelligence officials to hack more than a half-billion Yahoo e-mail accounts has agreed to waive an extradition hearing in Canada and will go to the United States to face the charges.
Karim Baratov, a 22-year-old Canadian citizen born in Kazakhstan, signed documents agreeing to forgo the hearing before a judge in Hamilton, Ontario, on August 18.
U.S. prosecutors have charged Baratov and three other men -- including two identified as Russian intelligence officers -- in connection with massive 2014 hack against Yahoo.
Baratov was arrested in Canada in March at Washington's request.
Baratov's lawyer, Amedeo DiCarlo, said that his client's decision to waive his extradition hearing was aimed at speeding up the legal process and talks with U.S. authorities. He was to be taken by U.S. marshals to California, DiCarlo said.
Kazakhstan's government said previously that Baratov lost his Kazakh citizenship in 2011 after he became a Canadian citizen.
One of the intelligence officers indicted in the Yahoo hack was arrested in Russia last year and charged with treason, according to a lawyer involved with the case. The other two suspects are believed to be in Russia.
With reporting by AP, Globalnews.ca, and CBC.ca