Image via flickr / sam_churchill
In a New Zealand Appeals Court ruling, MegaUpload founder Kim Dotcom and three of his former colleagues, Finn Batato, Mathias Ortmann, and Bram van der Kolk have lost their case against extradition to the United States. Dotcom, who is charged with digital piracy and money laundering in the United States, will now appeal the decision to New Zealand’s Supreme Court, according to a post he made on Twitter. Dotcom was living in New Zealand at the time of the original piracy and money laundering charges. He is a German citizen.
An original court case ruling had stipulated that United States prosecutors provide more than just a summary of their case against Dotcom before an upcoming August extradition hearing. Yesterday’s decision overturned this original verdict on the grounds that the court’s responsibility was to confirm whether the United States had a valid case against Dotcom, not whether he was guilty or innocent. Doctom’s legal team is claiming that without additional evidence disclosure on behalf of the US prosecutors before the hearing in August, they cannot adequately prepare. If the appeal should be accepted by New Zealand’s top court, the extradition hearing would likely be postponed from August to a later date.
In the past, it has been reported that Dotcom had offered to voluntarily extradite himself, on the condition that his bank accounts are unfrozen and he is permitted bail.
[via NPR and The Guardian]
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Eva Voinigescu is an intern at Toronto Standard. Follow her on Twitter @EvaVoinigescu.
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