US federal authorities wanting to extradite Kim Dotcom, the founder of the Megaupload online file-sharing site, must show evidence to back up charges of internet piracy and copyright breaches, a New Zealand court ruled today.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) accuses the flamboyant Mr Dotcom of leading a group that netted $175 million (€142.6 million) since 2005 by copying and distributing music, movies and other copyrighted content without authorisation.
New Zealand authorities arrested Mr Dotcom, a 38-year-old German national, when they raided his rented country estate near Auckland at the FBI's request in late January, confiscating computers and hard drives, art work and cars.
The raid and evidence seizure has already been ruled illegal and the latest decision confirms that Dotcom should be allowed to see the evidence on which the extradition hearing will be based.
"Without access to materials relevant to the extradition hearing phase, the person sought will be significantly constrained in his or her ability to participate in the hearing," Justice Helen Winkelmann said in a written judgement.
She said that would give the United States a significant advantage over Mr Dotcom at next March's extradition hearing.
Ms Winkelmann also ruled that the legal document asking for Mr Dotcom's extradition did not comply with the law.
The judge said the extradition court hearing would be more modest than a formal criminal trial, but the evidence needed to be tested and the defence able to present its own evidence, test the prosecution's claims and to examine witnesses.
The New Zealand courts have already ruled that evidence gathered in the January raid and sent to the United States was seized illegally and should be returned to New Zealand.
Mr Dotcom, also known as Kim Schmitz, has always maintained that Megaupload simply offered online storage.
Separately today, Mr Dotcom asked another court to free up cash so he can pay multi-million dollar legal bills.
Mr Dotcom's lawyers applied to use NZ$10 million (€6.4million) of New Zealand government bonds he held so he can pay his lawyers' fees, which have already cost NZ$2.7 million.
The internet entrepreneur's bank accounts were frozen, and his assets, including works of art and 15 cars, seized in the raid.
His lawyers said the legal work done for Mr Dotcom had been "mammoth" with more than 80 filings related to his bid for bail, access to funds, and challenges to search and seizure, and his legal costs could end up double what had already been spent.
They asked for Mr Dotcom to be allowed some of his car collection, which includes a pink 1959 Cadillac convertible and 1957 Cadillac El Dorado, to raise funds.
Reuters
