Kim Dotcom returns to court today, seeking to convince a judge to grant him bail.
The Megaupload founder was denied bail in North Shore District Court last week, with Judge David McNaughton ruling there was a real and significant possibility the German multimillionaire would flee New Zealand.
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.
Dotcom, 38, indicated his intention to appeal immediately after it was denied and his appeal is scheduled to be heard before a High Court judge in Auckland on Friday.
Judge McNaughton had ruled he may try to flee to Germany as German law does not allow its citizens to be extradited.
Dotcom's lawyer, Paul Davison, said outside court last week that his client had no intention of trying to leave New Zealand.
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.
However, they remained in custody while police checked on the addresses they were expected to be bailed to.
The other accused man, Mathias Ortmann, 40, of Germany, is due to discover on Friday if he has been granted bail.
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