Megaupload bail decision reserved

Kim Dotcom and the other Megaupload defendants may have to wait until Wednesday to find out if they can be released on bail.

Judge David McNaughton has reserved his decision until tomorrow or possibly Wednesday, until which time the defendants will remain in custody at Mount Eden remand centre in New Zealand.

Kim Dotcom, founder of the file sharing site Megaupload, appeared at North Shore District Court this morning for a bail hearing along with three other men involved in the case.

Dotcom, along with chief marketing officer Finn Batato, chief technical officer and programmer Mathias Ortmann, and programmer Bram van der Kolk were arrested on Friday by police executing provisional arrest warrants requested by the United States Department of Justice.

All four defendants are expected to apply for bail pending an extradition hearing. Lawyers representing the US government have opposed bail for all four defendants.

The Crown earlier opposed bail for alleged pirate Kim Dotcom, who is facing charges of copyright infringement, and faces possible extradition to the US.

Crown Prosecutor Anne Toohey said if extradited, Dotcom could face five to 20 years in prison, and the US government has expressed it will seek the maximum penalty.

The Crown claims Dotcom poses a significant flight risk because of the funds that are available to him.

Dotcom’s lawyer, Paul Davison QC, said his client’s funds have all been seized and has offered to the court a previously undiscovered Rabo bank account as a show of good faith.

IDG News Service

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