By 3 News online staff
It has been revealed Deputy Prime Minister Bill English knew the Government’s spy agency was eavesdropping on Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom.
Mr English, who was Acting Prime Minister at the time, signed off a Ministerial Certificate to confirm the Government Communications Security Bureau was involved in the case, while Prime Minister John Key was overseas.
Mr Key made the revelation today, saying his belief was that the GCSB’s involvement was within the bounds of the law.
He says Mr English was under the advice that the surveillance would be legal.
“It was only post-that when it was found out it was illegal.”
“The law is very clear and says it’s not lawful to gather information about New Zealand citizens or New Zealand residents.
“There’s a whole process on the way these things operate,” he says.
Mr English would not comment as the matter is now before the courts.
The GCSB allegedly monitored dotcom's communications in the lead-up to his arrest.
It appears the security agency was unaware that he was a New Zealand resident –which made it illegal to spy on him. Mr Key was in the United States watching his son play baseball at the time the investigation was signed off by Mr English.
Mr Key says the GCSB will be held accountable for the investigation.
“I’m very disappointed in the agency… there is a full investigation taking place headed by the independent retired judge Paul Nazar who is the commissioner in charge of security and intelligence,” he says.
3 News