New Zealand Supreme Court Says DOJ Doesn't Have To Provide Its Evidence In Megaupload Extradition Case

from the blind-justice dept

Thu, Mar 20th 2014 3:59pm — Mike Masnick

Despite two earlier rulings that the US Justice Department needed to provide Kim Dotcom and others involved in Megaupload with the actual evidence being used against them for the extradition trial, an appeals court overturned those rulings and now the New Zealand Supreme Court has agreed in rejecting the request. While the chief judge dissented, the majority found that the extradition treaty does not require the country that has filed the charges against the individuals to provide the information and that the New Zealand courts have no real authority to order the US DOJ to provide the evidence. It does seem rather ridiculous that someone can be sent halfway around the world to face criminal charges without first being able to see the evidence against them, but that's apparently the law in New Zealand. They might want to fix that.

Either way, the actual extradition trial was recently pushed back until July (it had been scheduled to start in a few weeks). Seems quite bizarre that they're only just getting to the trial over extradition nearly two and a half years after Megaupload was seized and shut down. The judicial process isn't exactly known for its speed, which is kind of crazy when you realize how quickly (and with such flimsy evidence) DOJ and New Zealand officials acted to arrest Kim Dotcom and his colleagues.

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Filed Under: doj, evidence, extradition, fbi, kim dotcom, new zealand
Companies: megaupload

102 Comments

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That One Guy (profile), 20 Mar 2014 @ 3:55pm

Able to be tried/extradited due to evidence you're not allowed to look at and/or file objections to, ah, the 'justice' system at work. /s
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- DogBreath, 20 Mar 2014 @ 8:00pm
  
  Re:
  Welcome to the Cardassian Justice System.
  
  "The Cardassian approach to justice is radically different then that favoured by Federation worlds. Cardassians have absolute faith in their investigators, and maintain that only the guilty are ever arrested and brought to trial.
  
  On Cardassia Prime a trial is intended only to demonstrate how the offender�s guilt was determined. Thus the purpose of the trial is not to establish facts � these are already known, and cannot be disputed � but to provide an educational experience for the populace, so trials are broadcast throughout Cardassia."
  
  "The offender is not allowed to introduce any new evidence whatsoever. Under the Cardassian judicial system, no evidence can be submitted once the verdict has been reached, and the always happens before the trial begins.
  
  During the trial, the Archon calls a number of witnesses who provide evidence of the offender�s guilt. The standards of proof required are not high, and unsubstantiated claims and hearsay are admissible forms of evidence."
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  - Pragmatic, 21 Mar 2014 @ 6:39am
    
    Re: Re:
    It scares me that our country seems to be run by Star Trek aliens. We've got Ferengi economics accepted as the rule as "the free market." I always thought that show was fiction! /sarc
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Vincent Giannell, 20 Mar 2014 @ 5:10pm

"It does seem rather ridiculous that someone can be sent halfway around the world to face criminal charges without first being able to see the evidence against them, but that's apparently the law in New Zealand. They might want to fix that."

Except they can't fix it they think that doing so would be an embarrassment to their country.
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Chris-Mouse (profile), 20 Mar 2014 @ 5:42pm

If the DOJ is not required to give the evidence to the defence, does this also mean they won't be allowed to use the evidence during the trial?
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Anonymous Coward, 20 Mar 2014 @ 5:42pm

Awwww..... poor Masnick. Your hero is going to have to face the music after all. I don't know why you're surprised that NZ doesn't feel obliged to try the case before fulfilling its extradition treaty obligation.

Seems quite bizarre that they're only just getting to the trial over extradition nearly two and a half years after Megaupload was seized and shut down.

This may have something to do with the fat fuck resisting extradition. He could have gotten on a plane to the southern district of VA years ago.

Nice to know he'll be coming for an extended stay soon.
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  lucidrenegade (profile), 20 Mar 2014 @ 6:10pm
  
  Re:
  It's unfortunate that your abortion didn't take.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Anonymous Coward, 20 Mar 2014 @ 8:02pm
    
    Re: Re:
    It did...
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- Anonymous Coward, 20 Mar 2014 @ 6:17pm
  
  Re:
  So if you find yourself facing criminal charges on the other side of the planet, you'd go? Also, the problem isn't the length of time (unreasonable, but not horrible), the problem is that penalties were given out BEFORE the trial.
  
  [i]I don't know why you're surprised that NZ doesn't feel obliged to try the case before fulfilling its extradition treaty obligation.[/i]
  They have to try it anyway, what they said isn't he doesn't get a trial, what happened is they said he can't see the evidence against him.
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    Anonymous Coward, 20 Mar 2014 @ 8:14pm
    
    Re: Re:
    So if you find yourself facing criminal charges on the other side of the planet, you'd go? Also, the problem isn't the length of time (unreasonable, but not horrible), the problem is that penalties were given out BEFORE the trial.
    
    No I wouldn't. But neither would I be moaning about it being unresolved for 2.5 years. Every day in NZ is a day not in an American penitentiary. Not a place a soft, rich, chubby white boy will likely be comfortable.
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    - G Thompson (profile), 21 Mar 2014 @ 1:57am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      So it's ok that you wouldn't go and face criminal charges in another country, but you think everyone else should??
      
      that's some hypocritical God complex you have there!
      
      Actually maybe I should press criminal charges on Dotcoms behalf of you calling him a "Fat Fuck" which under NZ and Aust law can be classified as a criminal act (harassment, hate crime, etc). Could be interesting... you would probably win at the extradition attempt (seeing as the US allows no citizen to be extradited whatsoever) but good luck EVER leaving the USA for another country.
      
      What??? you think the above is unreasonable and I haven't got enough evidence in context to convict you... Sorry I do, I'm just not prepared to show you and will convict you in absentia instead.. so sad
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
      - Anonymous Coward, 21 Mar 2014 @ 4:58am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re:
        So it's ok that you wouldn't go and face criminal charges in another country, but you think everyone else should??
        
        Perhaps you should ask someone else to read what I wrote and explain it to you.
        
        Actually maybe I should press criminal charges on Dotcoms behalf of you calling him a "Fat Fuck" which under NZ and Aust law can be classified as a criminal act (harassment, hate crime, etc).
        
        Go ahead, but you are talking out of your ass. It is not a criminal offense nor are you able to "press criminal charges on Doncoms behalf..."
        
        Could be interesting... you would probably win at the extradition attempt (seeing as the US allows no citizen to be extradited whatsoever) but good luck EVER leaving the USA for another country.
        
        Again, you amply make shit up. The US does allow its citizens to be extradite
        
        From Mcnabbassociates.com: "A United States citizen is likely to assume that he cannot be arrested and sent away to stand trial in a foreign court. This is simply not so. United States citizenship does not bar extradition by the United States. Between ten and twenty percent of persons extradited to foreign countries are United States nationals. For them, such treasured birthrights as trial by jury, confrontation of accusers, and compulsory process may evaporate"
        
        So I get that you are desperate to defend your hero, but do you really need to stoop to outright fabrications to do so? Pretty pathetic.
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        Anonymous Coward, 21 Mar 2014 @ 6:16am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        "Between ten and twenty percent of persons extradited to foreign countries are United States nationals."
        
        But the other country still has to present proof before the US will allow it.
        Interesting how you left that out, boy.
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        This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
        
        Anonymous Coward, 21 Mar 2014 @ 6:59am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Hey!!!!! It's the "boy" guy again. Seriously dude, you need to work on your schtick. That's been tiresome and unoriginal for years now.
        
        FYI, the extraditing country needs to show probable cause, not proof. You and the rest of the Kim Dotcom Fan Club seem to think the infringement trial needs to take place in NZ before he can be extradited. As is with most of what you think- you're wrong. Thanks for playing though!!
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        Anonymous Coward, 21 Mar 2014 @ 8:51am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        To extradite a US citizen from the USA the extraditing country usually needs to show proof and not just probable cause.
        
        Hypocrisy at its finest from the USA!
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        G Thompson (profile), 21 Mar 2014 @ 9:09pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        You wrote: "No I wouldn't." in regards to you traveling to another country voluntarily to face criminal charges.. What part of your own response don't YOU understand?
        
        Harassment and 'hate crime' IS an indictable offense under AU/NZ laws, it's also able to be actioned by anyone who complains to appropriate authority who charge on behalf of that victim (whether the victim allows them or not). AS for myself personally able to push for and/or actually write out charge sheets in regards to specific offenses that I have upon balance knowledge of you performing might surprise you. Then again you don't know me either (and I don't explain everything I do in open forums either).
        
        As for the extradition of US citizens your laws require for that to happen that the laws are the same within both the USA and the jurisdiction wanting extradition, that the evidence (which must be presented in full to a US court) would allow committal/indictment proceedings to commence within the USA, that the USA constitution has overriding effect on all judgements, procedures, etc used in the other jurisdiction. So basically exactly the OPPOSITE of what the DoJ requires other countries to do.
        
        There is NO reciprocity nor comity in regards to USA citizens being extradite compared to other jurisdictions citizens being extradited to the USA.
        
        The ONLY fabrication here is you both confabulating and obfuscating the actual reality that is occurring in this matter.
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        G Thompson (profile), 24 Mar 2014 @ 9:04am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        and,,,,,, *crickets*
        
        why am I not surprised
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  - David, 21 Mar 2014 @ 2:39am
    
    Re: Re:
    "Sorry Mister Kornblum, that Hitler guy has a charge against you so we are shipping you off to Germany. We don't know what the charge is, and neither should you. But there must be something to it or he would not have seized all your assets already."
    
    It's sort of globalizing justice to the lowest common denominator. Let's see whether Nigeria can ask the U.S.A. for the extradition of Rush Limbaugh with a similar rationale.
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    - Pragmatic, 21 Mar 2014 @ 6:42am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      Now, now, David, US law applies to everyone but those in power in America.
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    Anonymous Coward, 21 Mar 2014 @ 10:54am
    
    Re: Re:
    Mike Masnick just hates it when copyright law is enforced.
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    - MadAsASnake (profile), 21 Mar 2014 @ 2:07pm
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      Copyright infringement is not an offense you can be extradited from NZ for.
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- JMT (profile), 20 Mar 2014 @ 6:55pm
  
  Re:
  "Nice to know he'll be coming for an extended stay soon."
  
  So what you're saying is that you think this decision will increase the likelihood of extradition, which is the same as admitting you think the evidence the defence wanted to see will show extradition should be refused. And you wonder why people think the justice system is broken...
  
  Besides, if I had your ability to predict the future with such accuracy, I'd be buying lottery tickets instead of trolling.
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    Anonymous Coward, 20 Mar 2014 @ 7:35pm
    
    Re: Re:
    So what you're saying is that you think this decision will increase the likelihood of extradition, which is the same as admitting you think the evidence the defence wanted to see will show extradition should be refused. And you wonder why people think the justice system is broken...
    
    Yes I think the decision increases the likelihood of extradition. I don't think NZ courts have an obligation to try his US infringement case in order to decide whether to extradite him.
    
    No, I don't wonder why people think that about the justice system. I do wonder why people think it is OK to take the creative output of others and refit from it without paying the right holders for his work.
    
    Besides, if I had your ability to predict the future with such accuracy, I'd be buying lottery tickets instead of trolling.
    
    Stevie Wonder can see what's going to happen. It seems just you and the other Dotcom fanboys trying to wish away his accountability for his crimes.
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    - techflaws (profile), 20 Mar 2014 @ 10:58pm
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      The "crimes" they haven't been able to proof for 2.5 years?
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
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        Anonymous Coward, 21 Mar 2014 @ 5:00am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re:
        *prove*
        
        And no, his US infringement case hasn't been tried in NZ or anywhere else. Swing and a miss... strike three.
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        Anonymous Coward, 21 Mar 2014 @ 8:04am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re:
        yes, because Kimdotfatpig has been running scared, but he will get his chance in a court, that's the law !
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    - MadAsASnake (profile), 21 Mar 2014 @ 2:11pm
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      US still has to show sufficient evidence as just cause - just not all of it. And they are going to have to show that for an extraditable offense. Since all of those on the indictment depend entirely in a quite laughable way on a non-extraditable offense [or maybe even non-offense], it is quite likely the extradition will be refused. That you admit it is more likely to be refused if the US releases the evidence shows that you admit just how weak the US case actually is.
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- Bergman (profile), 20 Mar 2014 @ 11:45pm
  
  Re:
  It says something about the quality of your character that you cheer when the rights of those you dislike are violated.
  
  I can only hope, for your sake, that you are never accused of any crime. You won't get any sympathy, and your heroes will have already established precedents that unpopular or inconvenient rights don't exist.
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  - Anonymous Coward, 21 Mar 2014 @ 5:04am
    
    Re: Re:
    It says something about the quality of your character that you cheer when the rights of those you dislike are violated.
    
    I can only hope, for your sake, that you are never accused of any crime. You won't get any sympathy, and your heroes will have already established precedents that unpopular or inconvenient rights don't exist.
    
    What rights have been violated? Because you like and support the guy doesn't mean his rights are violated just because he gets an adverse ruling. Being a smarmy piracy apologists says volumes about your character as well.
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    - Anonymous Coward, 21 Mar 2014 @ 8:57am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      Well Joe, he had his business destroyed, his money and things stolen, his house trashed, his family scared, etc.
      
      All of this without showing any evidence.
      
      Nice form of justice you have there!
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      - Anonymous Coward, 21 Mar 2014 @ 9:04am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re:
        And not forgetting Rapdishare were doing exactly the same thing with paying people to upload and having people to pay to use the storage and share their files but they were never shutdown and had their business destroyed and had money/assets seized and frozen. And not forgetting there is no extradition for the people of Rapidshare either to face crimes in the US. Talk about double standards and hypocrisy there.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
      - Anonymous Coward, 21 Mar 2014 @ 11:43am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re:
        I wouldn't worry about responding to Joe. He only takes part in arguments where he can freely stroke his massive ego and bitch about Manick's beliefs.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 21 Mar 2014 @ 2:18pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Joe's comment no. 68 "Keep studying. At your current level, it seems you're unable to detect the difference between being debated and being mocked." is in response to someone and yet Joe doesn't know the difference themselves with being debated and mocked when people respond to them judging by the responses that Joe continues to give to people. Oh the hypocrisy oozes from there every pore.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
      - MadAsASnake (profile), 21 Mar 2014 @ 2:12pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Not to mention his communications illegally tapped.
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    - Rekrul, 21 Mar 2014 @ 2:02pm
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      What rights have been violated?
      
      Umm, how about the fact that he is a foreign national who ran a foreign company from a foreign country, but yet he was arrested and had his property seized for allegedly violating United States law.
      
      Did I miss when it was declared that every country's laws now also apply to every other country? I guess that means all the gay men in the US will have to be sent to the middle east to be executed, right? And the entire staff of Playboy as well as all the models are probably in line for public floggings in counties like Malaysia.
      
      Or is it only US law that applies around the world? How can Britain get away with having 18 as the legal drinking age when the US drinking age is 21? They're breaking US law! All those people need to be extradited to the US to face criminal charges! Right?
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silverscarcat (profile), 20 Mar 2014 @ 6:14pm

I'm still waiting to know what NZ laws Dotcom broke.

He never set foot in the U.S. after all.
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  Anonymous Coward, 20 Mar 2014 @ 6:31pm
  
  Re:
  I'm still waiting to know what NZ laws Dotcom broke.
  
  Oh look, the slow kid is at it again. What does this^ have to do with this>
  
  He never set foot in the U.S. after all.
  
  Perhaps not, but the dumb bastard leased servers in the southern district of VA. That means the US can exercise jurisdiction.
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  - G Thompson (profile), 21 Mar 2014 @ 1:59am
    
    Re: Re:
    You keep spewing your hate and troll-like sentiments world wide too.. seems somewhere there has to be a criminal jurisdiction where you are guilty of something..
    
    Lets find it shall we..
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    - This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
      
      Anonymous Coward, 21 Mar 2014 @ 5:05am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      Let me know numb nuts. I won't hold my breath waiting.
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  - silverscarcat (profile), 21 Mar 2014 @ 3:35am
    
    Re: Re:
    You know what? I'm pretty sure calling people names is a hate crime in New York, should I call a lawyer up and have you extradited to New York to face crimes?
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      Anonymous Coward, 21 Mar 2014 @ 5:08am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      You know what? I'm pretty sure calling people names is a hate crime in New York, should I call a lawyer up and have you extradited to New York to face crimes?
      
      Since you don't seem to understand our legal system- let me inform you that you will need to contact a prosecutor regarding the prosecution of a criminal matter. But first better check and see if stupidity is a crime in NY. I'd hate to see you walk into a trap.
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      - ALex, 25 Mar 2014 @ 4:40am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Prosecutors are lawyers. And it really says something about you when you think pointing out one minor error in an argument is enough to completely dismiss it.
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  - Niall (profile), 21 Mar 2014 @ 4:12am
    
    Re: Re:
    Then you'd better hope you never have business dealings with any country that feels it can exercise some jurisdiction on you for something that's a crime there but not where you are. Or any dealings whatsoever.
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      Anonymous Coward, 21 Mar 2014 @ 5:10am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      Then you'd better hope you never have business dealings with any country that feels it can exercise some jurisdiction on you for something that's a crime there but not where you are. Or any dealings whatsoever.
      
      Thank you for your well-wishes. I'll bet Dotcom would have appreciated hearing this from you several years back.
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  Anonymous Coward, 21 Mar 2014 @ 8:06am
  
  Re:
  doesn't matter if he broke NZ laws or not, he's not being tried in NZ, the US needed to provide enough evidence to warrant and extradition, not enough evidence to try and convict him, but I don't expect you to understand that, after all you believe Mansick.
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  - MadAsASnake (profile), 21 Mar 2014 @ 2:17pm
    
    Re: Re:
    US have provided an indictment only. That is not enough. Given the raid and reasons behind hit, DotCom also has a colourable argument that he won't get a fair trial in the US.
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- MadAsASnake (profile), 21 Mar 2014 @ 2:14pm
  
  Re:
  None. NZ prosecutors already said there was no case to answer in NZ.
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Anonymous Coward, 20 Mar 2014 @ 6:26pm

It's unfortunate that your abortion didn't take.

Hahahaha..... another Fat Bastard fanboy crying bitter tears. Sorry, your friend the corpulent grifter is going to have to explain how he earned tens of millions using willful blindness as a business model.
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- Anonymous Coward, 20 Mar 2014 @ 8:05pm
  
  Re:
  So should the DOJ who's head honchos raked in hundreds of thousands of dollars in 'contributions' from the MPAA and various hollywood scumbag lobbyists to go after megaupload
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
    
    Anonymous Coward, 20 Mar 2014 @ 8:06pm
    
    Re: Re:
    So should the DOJ who's head honchos raked in hundreds of thousands of dollars in 'contributions' from the MPAA and various hollywood scumbag lobbyists to go after megaupload
    
    I don't suppose you have a shred of proof of this slander?
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Rikuo (profile), 20 Mar 2014 @ 8:25pm
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      So when someone says the DOJ takes bribes from the MPAA, you shout "slander!" and demand evidence
      
      but when it comes to Dotcom, you've already convicted him, you don't care he doesn't get to see the evidence against him or of him having to defend himself in a country he's not a citizen of, you don't care that the DOJ willingly let evidence that could have helped him be destroyed.
      
      Double standards, much?
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
      - This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
        
        Anonymous Coward, 21 Mar 2014 @ 4:41am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re:
        So when someone says the DOJ takes bribes from the MPAA, you shout "slander!" and demand evidence
        
        but when it comes to Dotcom, you've already convicted him, you don't care he doesn't get to see the evidence against him or of him having to defend himself in a country he's not a citizen of, you don't care that the DOJ willingly let evidence that could have helped him be destroyed.
        
        Double standards, much?
        
        At least there are news accounts and his own statements. Plus I actually visited his website. There is ZERO evidence of bribery of DOJ officials by anyone whatsoever. Just the fantasies of freeloaders and piracy apologists.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Rikuo (profile), 21 Mar 2014 @ 5:22am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Curious. If A says something bad about B, C can't say "Slander!" It has to be B who cries foul, in much the same way I, a non-employee or non-agent of Warner Bros. can't send a legit DMCA to a website to take down a copy of a Batman movie.
        Is this tacit admission from you that you are in some way affiliated with the MPAA?
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
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        Anonymous Coward, 21 Mar 2014 @ 7:03am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Let me ask you something Rikuo. By your own admission you:
        
        1. Are in your twenties.
        2. Have no education past high school.
        3. Are a grocery store clerk who fears being displaced by self-checkout.
        4. Have never been laid.
        5. Spending an inordinate amount of time playing games on the internet.
        
        Is this a tacit admission that you're a loser?
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Rikuo (profile), 21 Mar 2014 @ 7:11am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        So instead of trying to counter my arguments, you go for a personal attack.
        Well done. The personal attack is the last gasp effort of those who have lost in the game of debate.
        As for the points themselves...they're true (except for 3, I'm currently studying and 5, I actually rarely play games nowadays, but hey) and so what? What does that change about my arguments to you?
        Does the fact that I currently don't have a magic piece of paper from a school somehow mean I am unable to debate?
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
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        Anonymous Coward, 21 Mar 2014 @ 8:08am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        an observation is not an attack, unless you think it is!
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        John Fenderson (profile), 21 Mar 2014 @ 8:09am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Don't feed him. He's already lost.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 21 Mar 2014 @ 8:24am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        And report the spam.
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        Anonymous Coward, 21 Mar 2014 @ 9:00am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Keep studying. At your current level, it seems you're unable to detect the difference between being debated and being mocked.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 21 Mar 2014 @ 6:47am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        ZERO evidence of bribery? Define "bribery."
        
        And while you're at it, try this on for size.
        "Candidly, those who count on quote 'Hollywood' for support need to understand that this industry is watching very carefully who's going to stand up for them when their job is at stake," Dodd told Fox News. "Don't ask me to write a check for you when you think your job is at risk and then don't pay any attention to me when my job is at stake."
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 21 Mar 2014 @ 6:55am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Ummmm, DOJ officials don't run for office and do not receive campaign contributions. Derp.
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        Pragmatic, 21 Mar 2014 @ 9:16am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Do you REALLY think the DOJ is doing this all on their own without members of the US Govt. behind them? Derp, yourself. And while you're at it, remember Chris Dodd was a Senator before becoming head of the MPAA. Revolving door, much?
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        John Fenderson (profile), 21 Mar 2014 @ 9:19am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        But they take orders from people who are.
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        Pragmatic, 21 Mar 2014 @ 6:48am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/01/19/exclusive-hollywood-lobbyist-threatens-to-cut-off-obama-2 012-money-over-anti/
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      - PaulT (profile), 21 Mar 2014 @ 10:27am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re:
        It's telling that you morons keep obsessing over Dotcom's body shape rather than any facts surrounding any actions he's supposed to have undertaken...
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    - G Thompson (profile), 21 Mar 2014 @ 2:01am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      compared to the defamatory remarks you just spewed forth??? regarding 'grifter', 'fat', 'bastard', 'willful blindness' etc etc.
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      - Anonymous Coward, 21 Mar 2014 @ 8:09am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re:
        not defamation if it is true !!
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        G Thompson (profile), 21 Mar 2014 @ 10:19am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        I think you need to figure out that truth is one thing, whereas what you wrote was until proven by a court absolutely untrue ie: grifter, "willful blindness"
        
        And since they have not been proven they are NOT true and fall instead under allegations and/or imputations of criminal activity (moral turpitude if you will) and are therefore defamation per se and absolutely defamatory due to this. Just because a court might come to that conclusion (or not) in a future date does not make them truth just because you think so and would not be a retrospective truth either.
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    - Anonymous Coward, 21 Mar 2014 @ 11:38am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      "I don't suppose you have a shred of proof of this slander?"
      
      Oh the naivety.
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Guardian, 20 Mar 2014 @ 7:17pm

i just about fell off my chair
what the fuck?

haha NO EVIDENCE EH?

don;t care if the guys past shows him to be the worst human being on earth....we have laws to prevent 1500's church lynchings...
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Anonymous Coward, 20 Mar 2014 @ 7:29pm

average_joe just hates it when due process is enforced.
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Anonymous Coward, 20 Mar 2014 @ 8:41pm

This is no surprise, the New Zealand government would look terrible if he were found innocent or not extradited, after they worked with the US and illegally spied on him...
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- That One Guy (profile), 21 Mar 2014 @ 1:29am
  
  Re:
  Not to mention all the effort they went through to make the raid, and therefore the evidence 'gathered' during it, retroactively legal, can't let that go to waste now can we? /s
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- Anonymous Coward, 22 Mar 2014 @ 5:12am
  
  Re:
  They look terrible for this and other reasons already, actually. The current government is Not popular right now. Which does't mean it won't win the next election Anyway due to dodgy media shinanigans and the like, but still, when it's own party members are bailing on it over some of the stupid shit that's been pulled, it says something.
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my name here, 20 Mar 2014 @ 9:39pm

Really?
" Seems quite bizarre that they're only just getting to the trial over extradition nearly two and a half years after Megaupload was seized and shut down."

There is only one person to blame for that, and it's Kim Dotcom (and the legal underlings working for him). He has been fighting extradition tooth and nail and trying his best to tie the NZ legal system in knots to look for a sneaky way out of facing justice.

What is key here is that the highest court in the land has pretty much dealt a death blow to his whole attempt to get the whole of the case tried in NZ, where justice might be ever so much more kind to him. The intent of his legal actions against extradition were clear from the get go, and the NZ supreme court has told him it's a no go.

The case drags only because of Kim, plain and simple. If he wants to see the evidence against him, he only has to present himself in the court of law where he is charged, not in a safe haven half a world away. He could have turned himself over for extradition up front and saved himself 2 and a half years, instead he's been dragging his feet and fighting all the way.

Good on the NZ Supreme Court for shutting down his nonsense, now it's time for the extradition court to send him packing to the US to face up for his (alleged) crimes.
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- That One Guy (profile), 20 Mar 2014 @ 10:30pm
  
  Yes, really
  Indeed, why, the kangaroo court in the US put together especially for him has been put on hold for several years now, how incredibly rude of him to demand that things be done legally and by the book(and the absolute gall of the man to suggest that an armed, illegal raid ordered and orchestrated by the US might indicate a similarly rigged case against him in the US) before allowing himself to be shipped over to face the best 'justice' money can buy.
  
  /s
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- jupiterkansas (profile), 21 Mar 2014 @ 12:42am
  
  Re: Really?
  So if New Zealand accuses you of a crime, you'll gladly board a plane and fly halfway around the world to face justice?
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- Anonymous Coward, 21 Mar 2014 @ 7:25am
  
  Re: Really?
  "trying his best to tie the NZ legal system in knots to look for a sneaky way out of facing INjustice."
  
  Fixed that for you.
  
  The US conducted illegal raids on his property and servers in NZ, based on false claims from a corrupt business group, and *Dotcom* is the one trying to avoid justice?
  
  I sincerely hope you're joking, as I'd hate to think anyone would support the wrongdoings that have been made to pull Dotcom in front of a court.
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  - my name here, 21 Mar 2014 @ 7:55am
    
    Re: Re: Really?
    I can't say that I agree with any of what you are saying.
    
    The US didn't conduct any raid in NZ. NZ police did so. The only thing that qualifies as being illegal in those raids was basically some paperwork errors, mostly it seems because they don't do many of these in NZ.
    
    The false claims is pretty much crap, anyone and everyone on the internet knew that Mega was full of pirated material, and it's clear from the information out there already that not only did Kim appear to know about it, he also appears to have structured his companies and sold memberships to his file hosting service based on those facts.
    
    His attempt to avoid justice is simple: drag the case out of the US, try to fight it in NZ on a point by point word by work basis, dissecting the full evidence of the case in NZ and dragging it out as long as possible, repeatedly asking for constitutional rulings and attempting to get stuff thrown out in NZ to make the case in the US go away or be diminished. His strategy has come to an end, he faces pretty much a summary extraction hearing this summer, and he will be on his way to the US to face trial, if he doesn't end up holed up in the Peruvian embassy claiming to be a political prisoner.
    
    He tried to delay, he got his way for a while, and now his strategy has failed.
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    - John Fenderson (profile), 21 Mar 2014 @ 9:24am
      
      Re: Re: Re: Really?
      "it's clear from the information out there already that not only did Kim appear to know about it, he also appears to have structured his companies and sold memberships to his file hosting service based on those facts."
      
      This isn't clear at all. Can you elaborate and provide evidence?
      
      "he will be on his way to the US to face trial"
      
      No, he won't get a real trial. He'll get a kangaroo court.
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    - Anonymous Coward, 21 Mar 2014 @ 9:30am
      
      Re: Re: Re: Really?
      Rapidshare did exactly the same as Megupload in the way it was ran but they were never shutdown, they never had their assets/money seized or frozen and they never were faced with being extradited to the US to face crimes and yet they continue to remain in business and operational to this day.
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- MadAsASnake (profile), 21 Mar 2014 @ 2:33pm
  
  Re: Really?
  No, Not really. Remember, the US strategy was to incarcerate him and deny funds to mount any sort of defense, presumably because the case was underrepresented in legal wrongdoing to the same extent that the raid was over-muscled. Well, NZ courts, DotCom, and a bunch of lawyers weren't having that - which means the the US actually finds itself actually having to justify itself. So, no the US won't get a corrupt and cosy little plea deal and dotcom will fight every inch of the way. Quite right.
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jupiterkansas (profile), 21 Mar 2014 @ 12:47am

Dotcom sure brings out the trolls.
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- That One Guy (profile), 21 Mar 2014 @ 1:27am
  
  Re:
  Indeed, any article discussing him or MU always seems to bring them out in droves, and inevitably leads to more childish name-calling than you'd usually find outside of a grade-school classroom.
  
  And really, you'd think that after this long they'd have come up with better insults than just constantly referring to his weight...
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Anonymous Coward, 21 Mar 2014 @ 2:14am

This whole trial is a sham! No evidence being presented for extradition. The Chief Justice of the NZ Supreme Court might want to check if his co-workers are whoring themselves out to the MPAA. A bunch of hookers!
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- MadAsASnake (profile), 21 Mar 2014 @ 2:26pm
  
  Re:
  This is an unfortunate side effect of some rather lopsided extradition agreements rushed through after 9-11 - you know, they might have needed them for an actual terrorist (but stuck to extraordinary rendition [ie kidnapping] anyway). I believe the NZ supremes are following the law correctly - it's just that it's an appalling law. The US still has to show sufficient cause - which it is finding difficult... the NZ courts have already observed that several of the charges are ringers - oh - that is all the ones you could be extradited for...
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Ninja (profile), 21 Mar 2014 @ 3:17am

So if I wanted anybody extradited I just need to manufacture some accusations and pretend I have evidence but refuse to show it to get the process running. Sounds very fair and not prone to abuse.
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- MadAsASnake (profile), 21 Mar 2014 @ 2:37pm
  
  Re:
  There is a presumption of integrity in the requesting authority. If you didn't have doubts about the integrity of the US DOJ before, the recent revelations about spying, oversight, and the fact that Clapper hasn't been indicted pretty much seal it.
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Groaker, 21 Mar 2014 @ 5:59am

I guess that no evidence is required to extradite all the witches in the world to Nigeria, homosexuals to Uganda, and alcohol drinkers to Moslem nations. Simply a claim of such.
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- Anonymous Coward, 21 Mar 2014 @ 7:17am
  
  Response to: Groaker on Mar 21st, 2014 @ 5:59am
  I hope you enjoy your trip to Kampala.
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Anonymous Coward, 21 Mar 2014 @ 8:09am

average_joe and darryl just can't stand it when due process is enforced.
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- This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
  
  Anonymous Coward, 21 Mar 2014 @ 8:13am
  
  Re:
  so you ever get tired of being a fuckwit ?
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  - Anonymous Coward, 21 Mar 2014 @ 6:18pm
    
    Re: Re:
    Obviously you haven't.
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- This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
  
  Anonymous Coward, 21 Mar 2014 @ 11:20am
  
  Re:
  average_joe and darryl just can't stand it when due process is enforced.
  
  Interesting how this comment was hidden earlier and now, here it is. I guess TD only hides comments it doesn't like. Glad there's no censorship here though.
  
  The hypocrisy oozes from every pore.
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  - Anonymous Coward, 21 Mar 2014 @ 11:40am
    
    Re: Re:
    Well at least it s better than...
    
    MIKE, Y U NO SHARE YOUR BELIEFS!
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  - Anonymous Coward, 21 Mar 2014 @ 11:44pm
    
    Re: Re:
    Well, since it's hidden, obviously you consider it insightful since you only consider hidden comments insightful.
    
    I guess you really can't stand it when due process is enforced.
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Anonymous Coward, 21 Mar 2014 @ 9:12am

And not forgetting Rapdishare were doing exactly the same thing with paying people to upload and having people to pay to use the storage and share their files but they were never shutdown and had their business destroyed and had money/assets seized and frozen. And not forgetting there is no extradition for the people of Rapidshare either to face crimes in the US. Talk about double standards and hypocrisy there.

So would you feel better if the principals of Rapidshare got the same treatment? I'm guessing you'd be here moaning about them too.
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- Anonymous Coward, 21 Mar 2014 @ 9:25am
  
  Re:
  Whatever is applied to one company to deal with it then the same should be applied to the other company.
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- MadAsASnake (profile), 21 Mar 2014 @ 2:28pm
  
  Re:
  And Warner, and Sony, and News corp and and and...
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Anonymous Coward, 21 Mar 2014 @ 10:45am

And since they have not been proven they are NOT true and fall instead under allegations and/or imputations of criminal activity (moral turpitude if you will) and are therefore defamation per se and absolutely defamatory due to this.

So you're saying that if I said G Thompson is a heroin dealer, that constitutes defamation per seabsent a conviction for heroin trafficking? What if there had been a prior conviction but at the time it was said, G Thompson wasn't engaged in trafficking. What if there was a trafficking conviction after the statement was made.

Does there not need to be a court ruling on the question of whether someone actually has been defamed?

Methinks you are talking out of your uninformed ass..... again. It is truly painful watching how fucking stupid you are. Oops...... have you just been defamed per se in that strange world you live in?
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GEMont (profile), 21 Mar 2014 @ 10:56am

Why Spy?
Ah, the power of blackmail!

It is astonishing how well blackmail works where all other forms of diplomacy and bribery fail.

One has to admit it. The NSA global surveillance programs have paid for themselves a million times over already.

Hardly anyone dares stand up against any US demands now.
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Mar 2014 @ 7:23pm

average_joe, darryl and horse with no name just hate it when due process is enforced.
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