Setback for Dotcom after US evidence ruling U-turn
Kim Dotcom's fight against extradition to the US suffered a setback today after the Court of Appeal threw out a ruling previously in his favour.
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Kim Dotcom’s fight against extradition to the US has been set back today after the Court of Appeal in Wellington threw out a ruling previously in his favour.
That relates to a district court decision to force the US government to hand over the evidence supporting its internet piracy case against Mr Dotcom, founder of the Megaupload websites.
The Court of Appeal overturned that decision this afternoon.
In doing so, Justices Terry Arnold, Ellen France and Christine French have allowed the US government’s appeal against that ruling, requiring the FBI to show detailed proof of its allegations against Mr Dotcom. Now, it only has to show a summary of its case.
In their 49-page judgment released this afternoon, the judges say extradition hearings are not the same as full trials and did not require the same level of detail. The judge hearing the extradition simply had to be satisfied that there was a case to answer.
Mr Dotcom’s lawyers are reported to have said an appeal to the Supreme Court is being considered.
Mr Dotcom was arrested during a police raid at his mansion in Coatesville, north of Auckland, on January 20 last year. His assets remain frozen since that date.
A date for his extradition hearing has not been set.
NBR staff
Fri, 01 Mar 2013
Fri, 01 Mar 2013
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Setback for Dotcom after US evidence ruling U-turn
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