-
Internet tycoon Kim Dotcom - Source: ONE News -
Watch Video
-
Related
Internet tycoon Kim Dotcom is welcoming calls for an independent inquiry into the seizure of his property by police under an invalid search warrant.
On Thursday, a High Court judge ruled the search warrants used to confiscate hard drive data and other personal items from the internet tycoon's Coatesville home in January were invalid.
The German national was arrested in the raid and stands accused of breaching copyright laws costing owners more than $US500 million.
He is currently fighting extradition from New Zealand to face the charges in the United States and an extradition hearing is scheduled for August 6.
A guilty verdict could mean up to 20 years behind bars for Dotcom and the other defendants.
The Green Party said the actions of the police need to be scrutinised by an agency such as the independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) in order to determined whether any New Zealand laws were broken, given police and Crown lawyers were working on behalf of the United States.
"Given the disquieting information that has emerged about this case to date, it may be necessary for a formal review of how New Zealand's justice services interact with foreign governments' criminal investigation services," Green Party police spokesperson David Clendon said on Friday.
Dotcom told ONE News tonight that he suspects police were under pressure from the US.
"I think there's a lot of questions that need to be answered about how this whole investigation started. How the New Zealand government decided to take such drastic action against me and my co-defendants. And what the political element behind it is - who really benefits from this?" he said.
While it is not yet clear what impact the illegal search will have on his extradition hearing, Dotcom is confident he will remain in New Zealand.
Dotcom's lawyer Ira Rothken told ONE News on Friday he has not ruled out seeking compensation from the New Zealand Government after the illegal police raid.
The move could potentially cost the taxpayer thousands of dollars.
During the initial search of Dotcom's rented mansion, police took dozens of items including anything that could store digital data, meaning home videos, CCTV footage and data from the swimming pool heating system were seized.
Judge to hear motion
Meanwhile, a judge in the United States will hear a motion to dismiss copyright infringement charges against Megaupload.
The judge in Virginia on Friday granted the request by Megaupload's counsel to hear a motion to dismiss the case. He set a briefing schedule that will be completed by July 18 with oral argument occurring shortly thereafter.
The court found the request to unfreeze funds to pay defense attorneys' fees to be premature and invited such a motion if the Motion to Dismiss Megaupload is not granted.
The judge said he is considering a hearing to determine whether the US Department of Justice acted improperly in blocking Megaupload customers' access to their files when company assets were seized in January.
Dotcom is fighting extradition from New Zealand to face the charges in the United States and an extradition hearing is scheduled for August 6.
A guilty verdict could mean up to 20 years behind bars for Dotcom and the other defendants.