The bodyguard of internet piracy accused Kim Dotcom has been granted bail on a firearms charge.
Wayne Tempero appeared in North Shore District Court today charged with unlawful possession of a pistol.
The charge relates to the possession of firearms allegedly bought outside New Zealand and modified, Stuff website reported.
Tempero was bailed until February and was likely to continue residing at the Dotcom mansion in Coatesville, north of Auckland.
He said outside court that he would fight the charges.
"I bought them in Auckland, they are legal and they were bought with a legal licence."
Dotcom was one of four people arrested last week on charges over the file-sharing website Megaupload following a joint operation between the FBI and New Zealand police.
He was denied bail on Wednesday by Judge David McNaughton, who agreed with crown submissions on behalf of the United States government that he was a flight risk.
His lawyer Paul Davison indicated an appeal against the bail decision would be lodged. That hearing is expected to be next week.
A decision is expected on Thursday on bail for Dotcom's three co-accused, Finn Batato, 38, and Mathias Ortmann, 40, both from Germany, and Dutch national Bram van der Kolk, 29.
The four 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.
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.
Extradition papers are expected to be filed on February 22.
NZN