Two things strike me about the indictment issued against Kim Dotcom, his companies and a series of colleagues at his company Megaupload.
One, it quotes numerous emails between the co-accused. It looks the FBI somehow gained access to many of Kim Dotcom's emails, and the inboxes of his immediate associates.
Two – the number plates on those cars! (Scroll to the end of the indictment - here as a PDF - to see the full list of look seized yesterday).
If you’re running a highly controversial website, one would think you’d try to keep a low-ish profile.
Instead, Mr Dotcom, and his crew, had a series of vehicles that veritably seem to goad authorities.
Those on the indictment (all up, $6 million in luxury cars were seized, most from the $30 million Chrisco mansion rented by Mr Dotcom):
- 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK DTM, Plate No. “GOOD”
- 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK DTM AMG 5.5L Kompressor, Plate No. “EVIL”;
- 2010 Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG L, Plate No. “CEO”
- 2008 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drop Head Coupe, License Plate No. “GOD”
- Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG, VIN WDD2120772A103834, License Plate No. “STONED”;
- Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG, License Plate No. “GUILTY”
- 2007 Mercedes-Benz CL65 AMG, Plate No. “KIMCOM”
- 2009 Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG, VIN WDC1641772A542449, License “MAFIA”;
- 2011 Mercedes-Benz G55 AMG, Plate Nos. “POLICE” or “GDS672”;
- 2010 Mercedes-Benz CL63 AMG, VIN WDD2163742A026653, License Plate No. “HACKER”
One wonders how a number of those plates ever got approved (and they were in active use; media photographed the "POLICE" and "STONED" ones, among others yesteday).
Sixty Dell R710 servers were also seized, along with two 108-inch Sharp LCD TVs, two 65-inch Sharp LCD TVs, a 56-inch TVLogic TV (TVLogic being a professional broadcast series), a jet ski and other toys.
But right now, I'm guessing one of the toughest things for Mr Dotcom is going at least 48 hours without internet.
With a bail hearing adjourned until Monday, the alleged pirate - who turns 38 today - and his crew are spending this weekend in jail.
The birthday link is no coincidence. Police say a extravagant birthday bash was planned at Mr Dotcom's Coatesville mansion. The occassion allowed authories to nab him, and co-accused Bram van der Kolk (29), Finn Batato (38), Mathias Ortmann (40) in one location.
Big legal guns
Things will get interesting from here. The US government is clearly intent on extraditing the alleged pirate.
But he won't go without a fight.
Mr Dotcom has retained the services of Paul Davison QC - reckoned by NBR's legal correspondent Jock Anderson to be one of the sharpest, and certainly one of the most expensive, lawyers in the country.
Someone who's worked on a trial with Mr Davison told me Friday: "He's definitely one of the top defence QCs in the country by far. He's smart, methodical, and very thorough."
Mr Dotcom has reportedly also engaged US "super lawyer" Robert Bennett, best known for representing former President Bill Clinton during the Monica Lewinsky scandal. Mr Bennett apparently charges north of $1000 an hour. But if the US Department of Justice is correct in its assertion that Mr Dotcom earned $US52 million from Megaupload last year, he can afford it.
NBR's Jock Anderson will be in court Monday morning for the bail hearing , so check back then for updates.
A footnote: I asked NBR's Arts & Film correspondent John Daly-Peoples for his verdict on Kim Dotcom's art collection (seized artwork is also listed on the indictment).
John replied, "The art in Dotcom's collection appears to be expensivene pieces based on Japanese anime cartoons. It is not very significant, appealing to unsophisticated nerdy types."
Comments and questions
So the guy was a bit wacky - so what - no crime in that.
If these guys are guilty one would hope that the FBI and the NZ police followed due process before and durng the arrests - or they won't be valid.
My bet is that they haven't followed due process and paul Davison QC will have a field day in court and embarrass the FBI
Not a good day for Mercedes dealers in Auckland
No but probably some awesome plates now for sale
I am not a Solicitor but have read the indictment in reasonable detail to try and understand the case.
My view on first read is that it is totally flawed - the only case they may have is breaching copyright. The money laundering charges probably won't stack up and shouldn't stack up. If the defendents are of the belief that their system does in fact meet the bounds of the piracy law and assumiong that they would of had legal advice around this - how can the proceeds of that activity be deemed to be money laundering??
Any Solicitors pout there with the balls to make an informed legal comment - obviously mine is a laymans assumption
A couple of minutes on the interweb found these recent NZ legal & judicial gems...
"A teenager charged with the murder of Wellington Radio New Zealand journalist Phillip Cottrell has been given bail.
In an unusual move, Wellington District Court judge Stephen Harrop granted 17-year-old Manuel Penera Robinson, of Avalon, bail"
"A 17-year-old charged with murdering a teenager in Pakuranga last Friday has been given bail after the judge granted a special sitting this afternoon."
"Murder accused released on bail ROTORUA — Murder accused Brett Ashby has been bailed"
"A man charged with drugging and raping a woman while he was out on bail has been bailed again"
Seems you have to be a nerd with a few $$ to justify getting locked up these days.
Very well said!
Whether it is through the OWS movements globally or the stark realisation of the lengths the 1%ers will go to ensure their billions turn into trillions at our expense, it seems we are all becoming, if we are not already, puppets at the hands of these major lobbies.
Here's a country that had the brass b@lls to stand alone against the 'big bully of the world playground' once, at the height of the Cold War, and now that sovereignty has been sold to the same highest bidder.
I wonder if the Cars image on that towtruck is copyright infringing?
'The largest movie, TV, recording & book companies spent US$92m on politicians to get them to support their interest by proposing protectionist laws through 596 lobbyist in 2011 alone'!!
It is called a 'non-market strategy for making money' - protecting constant high prices while reducing competition.
A good insight: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-16603870
And everyone laughed when a movie came out with America being the world police, and now it's come to pass.
Unfortunately the rule of law is now bought and paid for by corporations who cannot see past their technical inadequacies to create a market model where they sell more of their product to more people for less.
Instead we have global control of governments because some corporations are pulling the strings and somehow we let National let them do it.
In Britain currently there is a student America wants to extradite for a site he created and hosted in Britain but because of these "treaties" about ridiculous Intellectual property laws then they will eventually be able to charge him in the states.
http://tvnz.co.nz/world-news/uk-student-faces-extradition-us-copyright-breach-4687694
I really wish common sense will prevail but It's a sad day for democracy and our legal systems. At what point will we be having our kids pledging allegiance to the flag in our primary schools ?.
Remember this, You'll get more time in a US prison for downloading Michael Jackson's album than if you actually killed him.
Sad, but true – you are completely correct. The world is full of hypocrisy though.
Just look at our laws that say multi-national corporations can peddle man-made poisons for profit – WTF? Knowing these man-made poisons create some of societies worst deficiencies and situations – yet, they’re sold at almost every supermarket along with the daily bread and milk…
Authorities have known for decades these consumer products cause huge issues for the user and larger, costlier on-going issues for communities and countries, supported by complicit and apathetic governments the world over as these uncaring corporations peddle alcohol and tobacco to the masses.
Yet, a God-given natural herb called marijuana in it’s natural growing state is deemed a “drug” and so “bad” by these same authorities that world-wide wars are waged upon anyone having anything to do with it. Incredulously though, this same plant can also be used to make things like paper / parchment, textiles, clothing, rope, bio-fuel etc and it can be used in a myriad of medicinal ways to ease the pain and suffering of cancer and terminally ill patients also. Yet, big tobacco and alcohol money ensure this natural plant remains public enemy No1 so as to keep their intoxicating poisons “legal” and therefore profitable whilst millions of people world-wide needlessly suffer ill effects and side-effects of horrible man-mad medications when this herb could do better for them, grown at home like parsley, without any of the major issues these horrific cancer-fighting drugs cause. Ever wondered about that hypocrisy?
No one ever, anywhere at anytime has ever died from a marijuana over-dose. It’s simply not possible. The consumer just gets the munchies and eventually falls asleep. Alcohol might have helped many an ugly person get laid, but the real cost to alcoholics and the wider community are only just beginning to be fully understood and come to light… yet, it’s still available for sale almost everywhere. Why is that? When will governments have an open, honest debate about this costly and unnecessary hypocrisy?
Another fine example of hypocrisy is how the UN hand down all manner of sanctions and denounce Syria’s al-Assad actions for month’s, wringing hands and fretting from their NY office, expressing grave concern for the citizens of Syria – whilst watching form the side-lines as his henchmen slaughter almost 5000 citizens since the Uprising. The UN needs to extract collective digits and send in the Green berets, SEALS, and SAS to remove Syria’s current “leadership” and install a democratic government framework free of tyranny and corruption. Why does the UN stand by and watch a modern day Hitler commit genocide on it’s populace?
If genocide to almost 5000 innocent citizens isn’t enough of a reason for the UN to act, what will it take? Does the death toll need to be near 5 million?
Hey, they forgot the ML63 "WANTED" ;-)
Oh, sorry, was I meant to be hiding that in my garage?
Bram was an overseas exchange student at Wellington College in the late 90's. Quite a tall guy, Really nice guy was very smart but could fit in with everyone. First time I've seen him in years, he obviously picked up some handy skills over the years. I remember he first showed me to how to find adult material on the internet ( was dial up internet at the time ). NZ should keep these guys here, FBI does not breed much trust eg not transparent think they're above everyone elses laws and rules.
Understand Mr Dotcom was partway through recording a song/album at Mr Finn's Roundhead Studio. Haha
Has Dotcom paid NZ tax on his worldwide income? and if no, who gets 1st call on his assets, the US FBI or the NZ IRD?
And they say the broadband in New Zealand is too sucky to allow us to develop world class products and services.
Pish I say. Clearly that's not the case.
These guys flout copyright laws by facilitating the transmission of copyrighted material between people who have not paid for it.
The record companies and publishers (all evil capitalists) lose money but so do all the artists that create this material.
For this flabby "comic book store guy" to claim it was nothing to do with him is just disingenuous crap. For all the sad US haters to rush out of their student flats and uni common rooms to support him is pathetic. If everything is meant to be free why don't you work for nothing?
Is the fact he can afford to own an absurd number of cars and flat screen TVs, and has bought the right to live in NZ and a tame QC meant to impress us? It looks like over-compensation for the fact he was not one of the cool guys at school.
Now I want to know who is going to pick up the massive tab if these charges get thrown out, the NZ govt. or the US govt.?
Dotcom could sue for hundreds of millions as his extremely lucrative sites have been shut down, millions per day ... just saying. And what ever happened to caution and due process?
It is not like he was a violent, dangerous terrorist. Just a businessman with a sharp business model on the gray edge of legaliity ... no worse than a finance company operator like Petrecivic, Henderson or the others really.
There will be no "massive tab" in the unlikely event there are no convictions unless it can be proven (not just claimed) there has been some abuse of process.There is no evidence so far to think this is the case. Paranoia about "protectionist laws" is not evidence.
As for the sad rantings about "multinational corporations" who "cannot see past their technical inadeqacies" - it's good to see school kids, uni students and public sector employees posting on these topics.
However I do think people who have invested millions creating and distributing films, books, music etc deserve to generate some money and - dare I say it - profit from their endeavours.
So nz police will arrest dotcom as the USA asked, but Mark Bryers of blue chip is free to hang out in oz- what a crock
Just shows how two faced this government is.
If this case isn't just a reaction to MegaBox, and that it has been slowly building traction over the last year, then National would have known what was in store for him. So take his money, give him residency, make him feel at home, and then when the cocks crow betray the poor bugger. Key should be ashamed.
Wow. Those plate numbers rocks! I think he is on possession of a number of cars. And they all have some kind of auto accessories that is unique on its own way. Like those plate numbers.
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