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Dotcom raid footage plays in court

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Dotcom raid footage plays in court

3News NZ

Kim Dotcom outside the High Court in May

Kim Dotcom outside the High Court in May

 

Footage of the raid on Kim Dotcom’s house was being played in court today.

Today Dotcom told the Auckland High Court that if Police had just knocked on his door, he would've let them in.

Instead the Special Tactics group raided Dotcom's Coatesville mansion in January, entering the grounds by helicopter and seizing belongings and computers allegedly being used for illegal activity.

Mr Dotcom told the court that officers used unnecessary force in the operation and claims he was punched and kicked during the raid.

Dotcom is in court as part of a judicial review of a ruling that said the US government had to give Dotcom and his co-accused access to seized evidence.

The CCTV footage of the raid was also seized by police, and is part of the evidence Dotcom wants access to. Footage taken from the police helicopter as it approached Dotcom's house during the raid was shown in court today and the CCTV footage is expected to be shown at some point this week.

The Crown wants the footage and any images from the raids to be suppressed and Chief High Court Judge Helen Winkelmann has ordered interim suppression of the material, NBR reports.

Identities of Special Tactics officers due to give evidence are also suppressed.

The US is trying to extradite Dotcom and his co-accused on charges of racketeering, copyright infringement and money laundering relating to the Megaupload file-sharing website Dotcom founded.

3 News / RadioLIVE

 

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Comments

9/08/2012 7:21:01 p.m.

Andrew wrote:

@Mike The fact that NZ helped the US under a Mutual Assistance Agreement isn't really the issue.. I can't believe your example of the murderer as well. Are you suggesting that overseas laws should be applicable to everyone in NZ even if NZ law does cover said offense? The big difference here is murder is a criminal offense in BOTH the US and NZ and the offense was committed in the NZ. It's not hard to see why the US was happy to stop a suspected murderer of entering the US and only too happy to ship him back to face the court. This is not the same as it is for the KDC case though. As for the criminal charges that are happening in the US, it's a joke.. Why would you want that here in NZ. It's basically copyright holders/lawyers trying to extort people through cash settlements. If you think that's a good thing to have then you really need a reality check.

8/08/2012 8:24:42 a.m.

Mike wrote:

There is such a thing as Interpol.

NZ also helps US justice directly as US justice helps NZ justice directly.

Do we have such short memories about a murderer who killed in NZ and fled to the US just a couple of years back? Was even on Campbell Live as the daughter was abandoned in the airport.

ONTHESCOPEOUT probly thinks the US should have ignored that murderers crime as it didn't happen on US soil. Well the US put that NZ criminal on its most wanted list, caught them, and sent them back to NZ for justice.

If a crime has been committed in the US by Megaupload, then dotcom should face that crime.

Currently NZ law is not like the US. In NZ we dont currently have internet companies responsible for illegal content the same way as the US. Much like a private customs/post office, in the US internet companies have a duty now to check content and to remove illegal content which Megaupload failed to meet.

Even in NZ now, without NZ laws requiring it, NZ internet companies are already starting to adopt the same practices as the US law now requires. Eg saw on 20/20 show (5 August) about illegal Stihl chainsaws, and when Trade-Me discovered they were copy chainsaws and not legit, they pulled it. Trade-Me isn't policing as much as US law requires yet, but they are moving towards that level, even before NZ law has caught up and requires them to do this.

Megaupload had a bad taste advertising campaign that basically advertised they were not checking content, ie in breach of US law. That basically directed the US to target them.

Megaupload had servers in the US, it had us clients paying in US$ to US accounts. It had employees in the US, even Lawyers, and paid taxes in the US. That all says operating in the US and subject to its laws.

8/08/2012 1:32:12 a.m.

dennis wrote:

If the Officer in Charge of the Special Tactics Group is required to maintain anonymity of its officers it would seem rather irresponsible to allow them to be used to enter a private dwelling to search for items at the instigation of a film association. Any anonymity was lost by not stopping to think. This is an alleged white-collar crime that can't even be committed in NZ. They had to become film stars because in doing this they have invaded everyone's home (and castle) in New Zealand. The victims of this action (not the M.P.A.A.)are not charged with money laundering. The "Mega Conspiracy" are charged with (mega)"conspiring to commit.." which need not actually involve the (mega)misappropriation of a single dime

7/08/2012 7:53:29 p.m.

onthescopeout wrote:

Dear Mr Dotcom..Sorry to know what has happen to your enterprise but now would you have a spare server blade for me?? Kind regards..
And for the rest of the country.. do not extradite him because his kids are now Kiwi's. He will be better serving his children before anything else.. He was charged in New Zealand shores not American