Court freezes more Dotcom assets, bodyguard faces further charges
More assets - including a Coatsville mansion - connected with alleged pirate Kim Dotcom seized.
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More assets owned by people connected with the alleged Megaupload piracy conspiracy have been frozen, and the bodyguard of the websites' boss has had new firearms charges laid against him.
A spokesman for the Official Assignee told the National Business Review High Court orders had recently been granted freezing more automobiles, real estate and jewellery connected with Megaupload.
Real estate captured by the freeze is understood to include a Coatsville property adjoining the former Chrisco mansion which Mr Dotcom bought for $4.33 million in November (well above its rateable valuation of $3.58 million).
Media reports said Wayne Tempero, the bodyguard of Megaupload boss Kim Dotcom, was charged with two counts of possession of a pistol for an unlawful purpose.
The charges follow a high-profile raid by armed police at the behest of the FBI on Mr Dotcom’s residence at the former Chrisco mansion on January 20.
Mansion snared
The new freezing orders are understood to include a 565sq m Coatesville house on two hectares adjoining the former Chrisco mansion.
According to property records Mr Dotcom purchased the property on 19 November last year for $4.33 million. The property had a rateable valuation of $3.58 million.
The smaller property purchase did not require OIO approval as it was less than 5 hectares of rural land.
More jetskis seized
A high-profile raid on the former Chrisco mansion by armed New Zealannd police on January 20, at the behest of the FBI, resulted in 16 classic and luxury cars seized by authorities.
The new freezing orders have caught a number of new boys' toys, with security registrations showing four new items were taken into the care of the OA on February 8.
The registrations show a 2011 Mercedes-Benz G55 AMG station wagon and three more Seadoo jetskis - alleged to be “proceeds of crime” - were recently added to the seizure list.
Matt Nippert
Thu, 09 Feb 2012
Thu, 09 Feb 2012
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Court freezes more Dotcom assets, bodyguard faces further charges
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