Megaupload’s Kim Dotcom Bailed, Still Fighting Against US Extradition Efforts

February 29, 2012 by
Filed under: Announcements & Events, File-Sharing Programs, Networks & Services, Legal P2P News & Issues 

photocredit: france24

“We’re confident we’re going to win”, said Kim Dotcom in his first interview as a free man. But he’s not off the hook completely as the U.S. Department of Justice is still working on having Dotcom and three of his co-workers extradited for conspiracy to commit copyright infringement.

As a condition for his bail, Dotcom is forbidden to use the internet. Also, his funds were seized so he can’t flee the country.

“It went way too far, it was out of all proportion. We feel that the action taken against us was political,” he told TorrentFreak.

“I am relieved to go home to see my family, my three little kids and my pregnant wife,” he added.

Kim is also determined to fight and win against US’ attempts of extradition. When asked about how the police treated him after the arrest, Kim said:

“Well, it felt a little bit like an audition to American Idol.”

His bail was granted under several conditions, some of which were not released to the public. As for the US efforts to get their hands on the 38-year-old Dotcom and three of his accomplices, they claim that Megaupload has caused damages of over half a billion dollars. Dotcom’s small fortune was seized by New Zealand’s authorities, including millions of dollars in investments, and assets, such as luxury cars and artworks.

North Shore District Court Judge Nevin Dawson is the man who let Kim Dotcom free; he considered that the defendant no longer poses a flight risk as all of his assets and money were transparent. Kim had several attempts to bail, but all of them were denied as he was seen as a serious flight risk, but that changed:

“Since that time, all known assets have been seized and are unavailable for Mr. Dotcom’s use or disposal,” said the judge.

“No new assets or accounts of any significance have been revealed since his arrest. Mr. Dotcom’s submission that he has not concealed any assets or bank accounts has largely been borne out.”

The judge said he received an affidavit from Bonnie Lam – the Hong Kong chief financial officer of Megaupload who vouched for Kim.

US’ biggest fear is that Kim will try to reach Germany, his homeland country, because Germany has no extradition treaty signed with the US. However, Dawson said that although there is a law which prevents Germans being extradited to any country, there is a treaty between Germany and the U.S. that would allow Dotcom to be prosecuted in Germany if he flees and if German authorities believe that’s necessary.

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