Charges filed against HP ex-Chair

SACRAMENTO, US - California's attorney general has sought felony indictments against former Hewlett-Packard Chairman Patricia Dunn and four others in a leak scandal that involved spying on board members and journalists.

But Attorney General Bill Lockyer did not target Chief Executive Mark Hurd in papers filed in Santa Clara Superior Court on Wednesday local time.

All five defendants face four felony charges that include conspiracy; fraudulent use of wire, radio or television transmissions; taking, copying and using computer data; and using personal identifying information without authorisation.

In addition to Dunn, former HP ethics officer Kevin Hunsaker and three outsiders linked to the investigation were named.

Hewlett-Packard in a statement said it continued to cooperate with state and federal investigation of the boardroom leaks.

The scandal has rocked the Silicon Valley icon.

But Brent Bracelin, an analyst at Pacific Crest Securities, said the indictments - like many turns in the saga - would mean little to investors.

"You can look a the stock action since this started and what it has it done and infer from that," he said. "I get zero calls from investors on this. I only get calls from reporters."

Dunn resigned last month over her role in orchestrating a company investigation into boardroom leaks in which investigators impersonated company board members, employees and journalists to obtain their telephone records.

She has said she regrets the way the probe was handled, but does not take personal responsibility for any deceptive methods used.

HP shares rose 60 cents or 1.6 per cent to close at $38.02 on the New York Stock Exchange.

- REUTERS