Why Immigration NZ let Megaupload's Kim Dotcom into NZ

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Mon, 23 Jan 2012 6:13p.m.

Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom (Reuters)

Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom (Reuters)

By Rachel Tiffen

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters is demanding a government inquiry into why Kim Dotcom was granted New Zealand residency with a criminal record.

Prime Minister John Key says German law had wiped his slate clean but a legal expert in New Zealand disagrees.

Dotcom has never been shy about breaking the law, and despite convictions for credit card fraud and insider trading in Germany, he became a New Zealand resident in 2010.

Under German law, a conviction is wiped after a set period but Christchurch-based German barrister Juergen Schubach says Dotcom's was not up.

“These last two convictions from 2002 and from 2003 have a term of redemption of 15 years,” he says.

Immigration New Zealand ruled his potential for investment good outweighed the risk of criminal bad, but Mr Peters says that is not good enough.

“Explain how on earth this guy could have got in here with his mates, it's that simple. Who was involved and let us know who was behind this. Did he buy his way in and is that all that matters now,” says Mr Peters.

Dotcom is one of 10 foreigners to come into New Zealand under the investor plus category, and one of nearly 2000 Germans granted residency in the last three years.

But Mr Key is not looking to change protocol.

“If every single case of where a person had a previous conviction was pushed through the ministers to make a decision, then I suspect there would be quite a few people that ministers would have to say yes or no to.”

It keeps the door wide open for future Dotcoms.

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Comments

27 Jan 2012 02:29p.m.

Vineula Gounder wrote:

this is so so funny. I'm a mother with my five children citizen of New zealand. Immigration New zealand has refused to give my husband a permit to live with us in NZ, now they deported him to his country and let us follow him to his country. I am a qualify social worker but we have got no right as a New Zealand Citizen to have him in NZ with us. Lucky for those who a criminal to become a residence of our country because of their money. We are suffering to survive here because of our government with no heart to value family that work hard and put this country together. Shame on them, this is sound like hanging their own citizen and accepting criminal people for their money.

25 Jan 2012 11:38p.m.

Deon Hamilton wrote:

they let him in becouse they wanted to bust him megaupload has been around for some time now and it takes time to build a case about two years lol about the lenth of time hes been here, also dont you find it a little strange the new zealand gov rush the copyright law in at the time a big player came to new zealand?? why would they to this becouse this guy if mega rich thats why and who gets he cash they take away from this guy?? thats right new zealand mate it like winning lotto with out buying a ticket

25 Jan 2012 05:54a.m.

Elfin Hucksberry wrote:

Its hard to avoid elements of hypocrisy in this whole delemma. The odd politican(s) as usual jumping in thumbs first to try a get a few browny points.As Mr Dawe outlinned above, this Mr Dotcom is something of a Robin-Hood..?? He obviously upset someones rice bowl further up the food chain. Should be an interesting case to follow in the weeks months ahead..

24 Jan 2012 01:48p.m.

Ron wrote:

What a shame. NZ should have higher standards. He also picked the wrong name - should have been Jabba The Hut

24 Jan 2012 01:22p.m.

money talks wrote:

Winston "No I didn't take the money, but I did" Peters is throwing his hat in the ring-what a blowhard. Look, NZ Immigration was happy to take his 10 million, then the yanks came in with a bigger offer to come bag this guy (that piracy bill went through right away- not much debate on that from the MP's). NZ is for sale don't kid yourself about that. For the $150,000 we pay MP's and the $400,000 we pay the PM, you think they might dea with something important like child killing and losing our farms. Oh wait, the PM is bending over for China on the farms after he said we should not be renters in our own country- I know let's go after Kim Dotcom, brilliant.

24 Jan 2012 11:29a.m.

jill wrote:

@Geranium, can you actual read english? This has been happening in NZ everyday for a long time, so get off you racist high horse.

24 Jan 2012 01:25a.m.

Geranium wrote:

This is the type of thing that happens in Chiina, not NZ

24 Jan 2012 12:50a.m.

Clarke wrote:

He got into the country because National has always favored rich criminals over poor ones. What people cant deny about John Key is that he is elitest.. as are his other Ministers. And insider trading isnt a crime really to someone like John Key its merely a misdimeanor. Remember the teapot tape saga??? John Key has some very set opinions.... and from the Prime Ministers response he obviously thought millions automatically made Dotcom an ok guy lol These are John Keys Bretheren.... lets invite them all to stay. Just because Nationals immigration policy appears to be.... "No matter what you have done wrong.. you can buy your way in here if you slip enough of a tip under the pillow in the morning." And dont worry about the poor... we are legislating away their rights so that we can pretend they dont exist.

23 Jan 2012 11:59p.m.

katrina wrote:

look at the state of him. How did he pass the health checks and weight requirements to get in?

23 Jan 2012 10:37p.m.

Ken Martin wrote:

Winston Peters and his other MPs are in Parliament because NZ First was over the 5% MMP party vote threshold in the 2011 General Election. MMP has increased support amongst voters from when it was introduced. Some voters chose NZ First by exercising their democratic right. To those exasperated by NZ First, remember they are not the Government. Winston will not be around Parliament for long. Pity, though, he is amusing and needles other parties well.