A lawyer representing MegaUpload founder Kim DotCom denied his client has engaged in piracy and told a New Zealand judge the U.S. completely misunderstands the nature of his business.
DotCom, along with three other men accused of serving to him run MegaUpload, appeared in court to plead for bail after he was once arrested Thursday at his mansion close to Auckland. the gang is charged with cash laundering, racketeering, and online piracy.
In an indictment issued in Virginia, the U.S. contends that MegaUpload was a massive criminal enterprise designed to enable and encourage millions of people to store and distribute unauthorized copies of movies, TV shows, music, and other media. DotCom, a flamboyant figure in the hacking community and Internet for over a decade, has said he and his company are service providers protected under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.
His lawyer instructed the courtroom that MegaUpload has nothing to do with the uploading of pirated motion pictures or video and that the U.S. government utterly misunderstands the company’s industry.
A judge today listened to arguments about whether DotCom should be granted bail, according to multiple New Zealand news reports. Crown law office lawyer Anne Toohey, arguing on behalf of the United States, told the court that DotCom was a significant flight risk and was in possession of illegal firearms when he was arrested, and alleged that he would be able to start up MegaUpload again if released.
Paul Davison, a distinguished New Zealand lawyer who represented DotCom right through the proceedings, denied his shopper would try to flee. He informed the courtroom that DotCom can’t move any place because government have seized all his belongings. He mentioned that DotCom’s spouse is pregnant with twins and asserted it will be unattainable for DotCom to function MegaUpload once more. He additionally said his client would be prepared to publish to digital surveillance.
The judge opted to keep DotCom and the three others in jail until he has sorted out the bail issue. He said whatever he decides about DotCom would apply to the other three men.
According to the reports from the court, the case for denying bail to DotCom gave the look to be a strong one. when police arrived he attempted to steer clear of arrest through locking himself in a secure room and when police ordered him to turn his arms, he refused. Allegedly, no longer a long way from where he was in any case taken into custody, used to be a few kind of sawed-off shotgun, which Toohey stated was unlicensed and unlawful in New Zealand.
Tooney told the court about some of DotCom’s past, including his flight from Germany in 2001 and 2002 after he was accused of felony charges. He was later apprehended in Thailand. In addition, authorities found multiple passports and credit cards in different names at his house, and they contend he still has access to bank accounts that police were not able to freeze. Police are after $172 million worth of cash and assets that they say MegaUpload generated in criminal proceeds. They have already seized millions in cash, cars, and other assets.
The bail listening to is step one in the us govt’s attempt to bring DotCom, 38, to the us. After the pass judgement on has ruled on bail, u.s.a. lawyers can start making extradition arguments. they have got forty five days following the bail hearing to record their request.