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Dotcom denied bail in High Court

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Fri, 03 Feb 2012 8:15p.m.

Kim Dotcom was denied bail today

Kim Dotcom was denied bail today

Kim Dotcom has again been denied bail after appearing in the High Court at Auckland on Friday.

The 38-year-old Megaupload founder sought to overturn a decision in the District Court last week to deny him bail.

His appeal was dismissed in a decision announced shortly after 7pm today.

District Court Judge David McNaughton had ruled there was a real and significant possibility the German multimillionaire would flee.

However, Dotcom says he has no intention of leaving the country.

Dotcom told the court on Friday two firearms found during the police raid on his Auckland mansion last month were there to protect his family in case they were threatened.

He was not licensed to have the firearms or trained in how to use them.

Dotcom says the measure was discussed with the head of his security team, Wayne Tempero, who is facing firearms charges.

Dotcom says he instructed that the guns be loaded with rubber bullets.

Tempero told the court the firearms were going to be used for skeet shooting, but using them for defence had been discussed.

Dotcom, along with three co-accused, face charges of engaging in a racketeering conspiracy, conspiring to commit copyright infringement, conspiring to commit money laundering and criminal copyright infringement, according to an indictment filed in a US court.

Bail has been granted to two of Dotcom's co-accused, Finn Batato, 38, of Germany, and Dutch national Bram van der Kolk, 29, who holds New Zealand residency.

The other accused man is Mathias Ortmann, 40, of Germany.

It is alleged the group amassed $NZ216 million in criminal proceeds through the website.

The FBI is seeking to extradite the quartet to the US, with extradition papers expected to be filed on February 22.

NZN

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Comments

05 Feb 2012 07:05a.m.

jan.. wrote:

All criminals must pay for the crime committed in this country of mine called the Aotearoa New Zealand..
The Government granted Dotcom a New Zealand citizenship at $10 millon and now he must face the New Zealand penalty for theft.. Kim Dotcom must pay for his crimminal act and carry out a ten year sentence or what applies by the LAW..
Andrew Harris, crims can work from inside the jail to defend themselves from wrong to right..
Blacky, lots of criminal dad's are inside prison, their wives are pregnant and are waiting patiently for husband to finish sentence.. re-think guys' this is NZ AOTE KIWI and TUHOE WILL ALWAYS STAND..

04 Feb 2012 12:39a.m.

Andrew Harris wrote:

I agree based on public evidence however, I am not surprised. The NZ government is corrupt, it's unobtrusive and a little more sophisticated than the US. Kiwis have appeared in court in past due to USA consulate complaints ( they didn't like that kiwis would speak out). In this instance, if a sentence carries 12 months or more he can be extradited. However, one should consider the number or offenders awaiting trial for serious offences such as murder and gbh who are granted bail. Its a pathetic court circuit guided by a central government directive. Lets face it if Kim wanted to flee, all he would require to do is pay some former sas boys whose services are for hire within NZ to bust him out. NZ armed offenders are poorly trained, part time and equipped to deal with professional soldiers. Let the guy have bail so a proper examination of evidence can ensue.

03 Feb 2012 10:12p.m.

Blacky wrote:

FTP. How can you not give Dotcom bail? The USA, CIA and FBI that's how. Our justice system is ridiculous. They have a man in jail over accusations. New Zealand should hang its head in Shame. Dotcoms wife is pregnant and expecting. I say put the police in jail along with government officials. It's the police who assualted Dotcom and destroyed his home. It's the government officials who bow to the CIA and FBI. Lets protest and organize a huge demonstration to free Dotcom. If the Government and their lackys won't free Dotcom then may be we the people should. It is still fresh in the mind how the police used terrorist acts to try and destroy Tuhoe.