A 20-YEAR-OLD video game enthusiast has been accused of illegally accessing someone else's online game account, in what is believed to be the first case of its kind to be heard by the courts here.

If convicted, Joshua Chua Er Jin, who has been charged with one count of illegally accessing data under the Computer Misuse Act, could face up to $5,000 in fines and two years' jail.

The case was adjourned yesterday for a hearing next week in the Subordinate Courts. Chua was released on $8,000 bail.

He was unrepresented at his court appearance and obtained bail after spending several hours in custody.

It is alleged that in April last year, Chua sold a video game account to another player for $1,000. After the transaction, he somehow managed to recover the game account from its new owner. When the new owner discovered that he was locked out of the game, he made a police report.

This is the third reported case involving online games to go before the courts. Such gaming has grown in popularity in recent years.

Last November, a 17-year-old video game addict was charged with illegally accessing a neighbour's wireless network in the middle of the night in order to get his gaming fix. And last month, a 16-year-old student, desperate for money to fund his gaming habit, stabbed a neighbour in a robbery attempt.

Police have dealt with similar cases before, although they have not involved charges being laid.

In 2002, a student and a national serviceman installed computer bugs in machines at a cyber cafe in order to steal video game passwords.

They were able to steal four other players' game accounts before they were arrested. Both were let off with a warning, although then police warned that future offenders would not get off so lightly.

In these online games, gamers create virtual characters such as warriors or wizards. With their characters, players interact with thousands of other people in a virtual fantasy setting, killing computer-controlled monsters and acquiring powerful magical artefacts.

Some game accounts with powerful game characters, rare items or large amounts of virtual wealth have been traded by players for thousands of dollars.

Some of the more popular online games here include World of Warcraft (WoW) and MapleStory, which are enjoyed by about 1.2 million players here.

Games distributor AsiaSoft spokesman Ivan Seah said complaints involving the alleged theft of game accounts or virtual property have grown in recent years.

The company, which distributes titles like WoW and MapleStory here, recently hosted a team of police officers who were keen to find out more about issues surrounding online gaming and virtual property.