BY REUTERS
Auckland, TAG – Two men sought worldwide
in connection with a U.S.-led crackdown on the online file-sharing website
Megaupload have been arrested, a New Zealand government lawyer told a court on
Monday.
U.S. authorities had issued international warrants for Sven Echternach, 39, a German, and Andrus Nomm, 32, of Estonia for their involvement in alleged internet piracy and money laundering.
 |
| L to R: Bram Van der Kolk, Mathias Ortmann, Fin Batato and Kim Dotcom in court. |
U.S. authorities had issued international warrants for Sven Echternach, 39, a German, and Andrus Nomm, 32, of Estonia for their involvement in alleged internet piracy and money laundering.
The
two had been arrested in Europe, New Zealand government lawyer Anne Toohey told
a court hearing on an application for bail by Megaupload's founder Kim Dotcom, also
known as Kim Schmitz.
Toohey
said Echternach had travelled to Germany from the Philippines, but cannot be
extradited because German law does not permit extradition of its own citizens.
Nomm had been detained in the Netherlands.
A
Slovakian national, Julius Bencko, is still being sought in connection with
what U.S. authorities have called the Mega Conspiracy.
Dotcom,
38, and three others, were arrested in New Zealand on Friday after police
raided a country estate at the request of the U.S. Federal Bureau of
Investigation.
Raids
took place in several other countries and the Megaupload site has been shut
down, with the business's assets frozen.
On
Monday, Dotcom's New Zealand lawyer denied Megaupload was involved in copyright
breaches, the pirating of movies and music, and said his client should be given
bail, possibly involving electronic tagging.
Toohey
said Dotcom was an "extreme flight risk" and should be held in
custody ahead of formal hearing on the United States' extradition bid.
U.S.
authorities want to extradite Dotcom on charges he masterminded a scheme that
made more than $175 million in a few short years by copying and distributing
music, movies and other copyrighted content without authorization.
Megaupload's
lawyer has said the company simply offered online storage.[]
Related articles:
Two More Arrested Over Megaupload Case
Reviewed by theacehglobe
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January 23, 2012
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Reviewed by theacehglobe
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January 23, 2012
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