Dotcom breached asset freeze
Film studio lawyer says Megaupload founder breached an asset freeze order by taking a loan from his lawyers.
Kim Dotcom breached an asset freeze order by taking a loan from his lawyers on behalf of a trust for his children, a court has heard.
Matt Sumpter, the lawyer for 20 Century Fox, which is suing Mr Dotcom for alleged copyright breaches, told Justice Patricia Courtney in the High Court at Auckland that the loan was $220,000, RNZ reports.
However, the internet entrepreneur’s lawyer, Ron Mansfield, said the loan was a new asset and would not be covered by the asset freeze, which covers New Zealand and overseas. It was an increase in assets rather than a decrease, he said.
Next month, Mr Dotcom and his coaccused – Mathias Ortmann, Bram van der Kolk and Finn Batato – appeal against extradition will be heard in the High Court.
The four were charged by the US government in 2012 of conspiracy to operate websites used to distribute copyrighted material illegally.
All maintain they are innocent but the FBI says they generated $US175 million in criminal proceeds.
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Staff reporter
Mon, 25 Jul 2016
Mon, 25 Jul 2016
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Dotcom breached asset freeze
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