VERSIONS: روسيا اليوم NOTICIAS FREEVIDEO ИНОТВ RTД
breakingnews
Go to main page   USA   News   Is it back to jail already for Kim Dotcom?  
MORE ON THE STORY
Megaupload boss Kim Dotcom leaves court after he was granted bail in the North Shore court in Auckland on February 22, 2012 (AFP Photo / Michael Bradley) 22.02, 20:21 19 comments

Kim Dotcom out of jail but still facing US extradition

Kim Dotcom, the founder of the now defunct file-sharing site Megaupload, has been released on bail following more than a month behind bars in New Zealand. Now he’s preparing to fight extradition to America.

IIPA want sanctions against Canada, Russia, Switzerland and others for weal IP laws 15.02, 23:18 14 comments

IP alliance wants file-sharing sites shut down worldwide

The raid that ravaged Megaupload was just the start. A powerful trade group that lists the biggest names in the entertainment biz as its members has called-out dozens of countries in their latest report and is insisting on sanctions against them.

megaupload.com 03.02, 22:07 11 comments

Megaupload's Kim Dotcom will stay in jail

New Zealand authorities have again denied Kim Dotcom bail, based on their insistence that the towering, bulky behemoth behind the Megaupload website will flee the country and escape international persecution.

Megaupload 01.02, 22:28 8 comments

Megaupload fights feds to save customers' data

When authorities shut-down the Web’s most popular file-sharing site last month, the impact was felt by more than just the entertainment biz execs who said that the industry suffered $500 million in lost profits.

This video grab taken from pool video footage shows Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom (R), attending the North Shore court in Auckland on January 25, 2012 (AFP Photo) 25.01, 21:43 22 comments

Megaupload's Kim Dotcom is one step closer to US extradition

File sharing kingpin Kim Dotcom, the founder of the website Megaupload.com, was denied bail for a second time in New Zealand on Wednesday. Now Dotcom will spend the next month in jail awaiting an extradition hearing that could send him to the US.

BREAKING NEWS 20.01, 01:48 169 comments

Anonymous downs government, music industry sites in largest attack ever

Hacktivists with the collective Anonymous are waging an attack on the website for the White House after successfully breaking the sites for the FBI, Department of Justice, Universal Music Group, RIAA and Motion Picture Association of America.

SOPA
Megaupload.com 20.01, 00:54 39 comments

Megaupload finished: Feds shut down file-sharing giant without SOPA

A lot of good those Wednesday blackouts did for the Internet. Not.

SOPA
The founder of file-sharing website Megaupload Kim Dotcom, a German national also known as Kim Schmitz, is seen at court in Auckland in this still image taken from video January 23, 2012 (Reuters / TV3 via Reuters Tv) 24.01, 01:58 27 comments

US fights for extradition of Megaupload's Kim Dotcom

Prosecutors in New Zealand denied bail for Kim Dotcom, also known as Kim Schmitz, on Monday, and said that the founder of the file sharing site Megaupload would have to remain in federal custody as he prepares for a legal fight.

SOPA

Is it back to jail already for Kim Dotcom?

Published: 28 February, 2012, 20:37

Kim Dotcom (C) leaves court in the North Shore court in Auckland (AFP Photo / Michael Bradley)

Kim Dotcom (C) leaves court in the North Shore court in Auckland (AFP Photo / Michael Bradley)

TAGS: Scandal, Law, Internet, Information Technology, USA


Only a week after a New Zealand court granted bail to Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom, the alleged file-sharing kingpin may soon be going back behind bars. On Wednesday a judge is expected to announce if Dotcom will have to return to prison.

Dotcom, 38, was denied bail twice over his alleged involvement with Megaupload.com, a file-sharing service site he founded in 2005, before being released last week. After more than a month in jail while awaiting trial, a High Court judge granted Dotcom bail last week after siding with defense attorneys that insisted their client could not be considered a flight risk. Authorities in both New Zealand and the United States are now asking Judge Nevin Dawson to reverse his decision, however, and put Dotcom back behind bars while he awaits trial and perhaps an extradition to America.

The prosecution insisted that, if freed, Dotcom would leave New Zealand, claiming that the accused has the necessary means to take refuge anywhere in the world. The judge was expected to weigh in on the appeal Tuesday morning, US time, but is now postponing his decision until Wednesday.

Dotcom, born Kim Schmitz, was apprehended by authorities on January 20 during a high profile raid that also resulted in the seizure of Megaupload and the arrest of several of his alleged associates. He is accused of masterminding a file-sharing conspiracy that cost copyright holders in the States upwards of $500 million.

The news of his arrest and the shut-down of the immensely popular site spawned a widespread response by hacktivists aligned with the Anonymous collective that crippled the websites of several US-based music and entertainment sites, as well as the websites for the US Department of Justice and the FBI.

The prosecution in this case is claiming that the decision to grant Dotcom bail came because the court found “no new evidence” against their client. Anne Toohey, arguing against the Megaupload founder, told the court this week that 20 days was not long enough for prosecution to put together a stronger case against Dotcom, who is being charged with a plethora or crimes related to copyright infringement. In response, Dotcom’s attorney Paul Davidson, QC, said American authorities spent “more than a year” investigating his client and that any new evidence that would have put him back in jail could easily have been produced. Davidson also insisted that Dotcom does not pose a flight risk, as the court has already seized travel documents and millions of dollars worth of assets from his client.

Representation for Dotcom also argued that their client should be allowed to continue spending time with his family. Dotcom has three small children and his wife is currently expecting a fourth. She joined him during this week’s court proceedings and was reported to have rested on the shoulder of her husband throughout the hearing.

When Dotcom was first granted release last week, he declined to offer much commentary to the media. "I am relieved to go home to see my family, my three little kids and my pregnant wife," Dotcom said after leaving jail for the first time. "And I hope you understand that that is all I want to say right now."

Since Dotcom has been freed, he has worn a court-appointed monitoring device, is not allowed to travel further than 80 kilometers from his home and is prohibited from using the Internet. The Southland Times out of New Zealand reports that since returning to his mansion in Coatesville, he has posted signs outside of his home asking visitors to leave all internet-capable devices behind.

In an interview with the website Torrentfreak this week, Dotcom said he is confident the he will win the trial once it starts and confirmed he will be fighting extradition to America.

“It went way too far, it was out of all proportion, we feel that the action taken against us was political,” added Dotcom.

Remarking about the raid that resulted in his arrest last month, Dotcom equated it to a “war zone” and added, “The New Zealand authorities certainly put on a show for the FBI.”

+2 (4 votes)
 
Back to top
next MORE NEWS
Photo from anonops.blogspot.com 28.02, 00:50 22 comments

Anonymous joins forces with OWS against NDAA-supporting politicians

America’s most powerful protest groups are joining forces to warn elected officials that they will be held accountable for their actions. The campaign is called Our Polls and its being launched with help from both Anonymous and the Occupy movement.

SOPA Defense Authorization Act
Detroit: Republican presidential candidate U.S. Rep. Ron Paul. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images/AFP) 28.02, 21:53 16 comments

California GOP convention occupied by Ron Paul supporters

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich was the only GOP contender for president to appear at a California Republican Party convention this past weekend, but supporters of rival Ron Paul made sure their candidate of choice was made known loud and clear.

US Election 2012 Occupy Wall Street
Zion Lion March 01, 2012, 03:45
-1

America should ship this guy to North Korea as part of the food aid program.  That fat whale could probably feed half of the starving Asians there.

dixienormns March 01, 2012, 03:03
+13

the nazi american terrorist org must have thought up a new false charges against him 

Bryan (unregistered) March 01, 2012, 00:46
0

Is that his wife on the left? Hot!