Kim Dotcom eligible for extradition to US, court rules

[Shawn Knight]

A New Zealand court has ruled that Kim Dotcom, the larger-than-life founder of the now-defunct Megaupload, is eligible to be extradited to the US. Along with three co-defendants, Dotcom faces charges including money laundering, criminal copyright infringement and conspiracy to commit racketeering.

As The Wall Street Journal correctly points out, however, this is just the first battle of a war that will drag on for years to come.

Dotcom seemed surprisingly upbeat given the ruling. In speaking to media outside the courtroom, he said they plan to go through the entire process to the end. Dotcom lawyer Ron Mansfield told the Journal that they remain pretty confident and that even if they were successful today, the United States would have appealed.

Dotcom and the three co-defendants have already appealed the ruling.

Ultimately, Mansfield believes the case is destined for the Supreme Court, something he says both sides knew all along.

It's been nearly four years since the US government, in cooperation with authorities in New Zealand, shut down the popular file sharing site and raided Dotcom's New Zealand mansion. Authorities claim Megaupload cost copyright owners more than $500 million in lost revenue while amassing roughly $175 million for its operators.

Image courtesy AP

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https://www.techspot.com/news/63241-kim-dotcom-eligible-extradition-us-court-rules.html

 

[cliffordcooley]

What do they hope to prove? This means absolutely nothing to anyone.

 

[yRaz]

I hope he wins, they illegally seized all his assets so that he couldn't afford a defense.

 

[Solitaire888]

I hope he wins, they illegally seized all his assets so that he couldn't afford a defense.

In US law, if the assets were the result of a criminal act, they're seized as evidence.

 

[Skezy]

I hope he wins, they illegally seized all his assets so that he couldn't afford a defense.

In US law, if the assets were the result of a criminal act, they're seized as evidence.

Is he from the US if not our laws don't apply. The US government runs a country not the world.

 

[Uncle Al]

I hope he wins, they illegally seized all his assets so that he couldn't afford a defense.

In US law, if the assets were the result of a criminal act, they're seized as evidence.

Is he from the US if not our laws don't apply. The US government runs a country not the world.

US law is not the only law to allow seizure of assets ... in fact, it is one of the primary way's many countries fight against the illegal activities of the likes of Iraq, North Korea, and many, many more.

 

[yRaz]

US law is not the only law to allow seizure of assets ... in fact, it is one of the primary way's many countries fight against the illegal activities of the likes of Iraq, North Korea, and many, many more.

The problem here is that this guy is still awaiting trial, he hasn't been convicted of any crime yet. This is a case of "guilty until proven innocent" and he cannot afford to fight the charges since they illegally seized all his money. This whole case stinks

 

[Lionvibez]

They will never give this up he is better off just moving to Russia aka snowden style.

They are trying to make an example of him yet they haven't seen yet it will stop nothing there will be someone else to replace him. Like all the money wasted on the war on drugs.

The Media Mob will never will this war just battles!

 

[VitalyT]

The US wants their own Tim-dot-Pen. Having the highest incarceration rate in the world is a remarkable achievement, and evidently they keep trying to break that record.

 

[wastedkill]

I just can't wait until the owners of google have to go to jail for harboring child porn, illegal content, torrent site, lets not forget they owe copyright holders $9quadrillian dollars.

Come to think of it mega is like 1% the size of google in terms of illegal activity yet why hasn't google had the same treatment as mega?

 

[DAOWAce]

The more I hear about his trials, the more I hate the justice system.

When are we forming our own nation outside of current government rule? I guess after we leave Earth, eh?

 

[Solitaire888]

The problem here is that this guy is still awaiting trial, he hasn't been convicted of any crime yet. This is a case of "guilty until proven innocent" and he cannot afford to fight the charges since they illegally seized all his money. This whole case stinks

If the money is alleged to be the result of illegal activity, it can be lawfully seized as evidence. Same deal with drug dealers not being able to use the money they made dealing drugs (as it's evidence of illegal activity) for anything.
Conviction isn't even close to what's needed, a conviction would result in fines and jail time (the fines won't be able to be paid with illegally made money either). IF the money was seized as evidence and he is convicted, the money will be stored for awhile as evidence then considered forfeit by Kim. After that, I honestly am not sure where it goes, but it's definitely not returned.