spends his first full day out of custody in more than a month today after being granted bail.
Dotcom,
the multimillionaire founder of file-sharing website Megaupload who
faces charges in the United States of racketeering, copyright
infringement and money laundering, had been in custody since a police
raid on his mansion north of Auckland on January 20.
He failed twice before Wednesday to be bailed after two judges ruled that he was a significant flight risk.
But
Judge Nevin Dawson said in North Shore District Court on Wednesday that
flight risk was not now of such concern, because all of Dotcom's assets
and bank accounts have been seized and no new assets or bank accounts
of any significance had been uncovered.
There is also some uncertainty about when an extradition hearing will occur.
"I
am relieved to go home to see my family, my three little kids and my
pregnant wife. I hope you understand that's all I want to say right
now," said Dotcom, who will be bailed to a property next to the Dotcom
mansion.
As part of the conditions of his electronically-monitored bail, Dotcom will not be able to access the internet.
The Crown has indicated it will appeal the bail decision.
Dotcom's
three co-accused, Finn Batato, Mathias Ortmann and Bram van der Kolk,
now face up to six months before a hearing to extradite them to the
United States begins.
In a separate hearing, the court was told the US government has yet to file the necessary extradition papers.
They must be filed by March 5, in line with the extradition treaty with New Zealand.
The
four accused have been remanded until August 20, the provisional start
date for the extradition hearing, which could take three weeks.
NZN