Several computers in the Justice Ministry's network have been infected with a virus known as "Ransomware", which restricts access to files and is usually associated with a demand for payment to remove the encryption or affected information will be destroyed.

"Several computers of ours have been infected and a lot of important information has been locked," said a spokesman for the ministry's Department of Information and Technology.

"We haven't yet been able to find an effective solution to decrypt the file and kill the malware," the spokesman said.

The ministry said the virus was "Ransomware", which has a countdown that will destroy information unless a payment is made, but did not elaborate on the sum of money being demanded nor what files had been compromised.

A document has been sent out to all officials warning about the spread of the virus and ordering tighter security on computers.

"If anything strange or the malware is detected the officials should report to the Department of Information and Technology immediately for support," the department wrote in its warning.