MEGAUPLOAD boss Kim Dotcom will remain behind bars
after a judge of Auckland High Court Friday rejected his appeal for bail while
US officials seek his
extradition for alleged copyright piracy.
The
appeal was rejected after lawyers representing US authorities told the court
that a man with history of producing fraudulent travel documents unsuccessfully
applied to visit Dotcom while in custody.
Dotcom,
the former German hacker who change his name from Kim Schimtz denied any
knowledge of the man and said he was not friends with him, New Zealand media
reported.
"If
people were to approach me and to offer such a service, I would tell them to go
to hell," he said. "I have no desire to run away."
Dotcom, 38, and four others were arrested after
police raided his $30 million rented Coatesville mansion and a house in Orakei
last month. Dotcom, a multimillionaire, argued that all his assets
were frozen and he wanted to stay in New Zealand to fight to get his money
back.
Justice Asher said there was a possibility that the FBI had not frozen all of Dotcom's funds and that would enable
him to illegally leave New Zealand.
If Dotcom did make it to his home country
of Germany, he would be safe from extradition to the U.S. to face the charges.
Dotcom "emphatically'' denies that he was
involved in what U.S. authorities have called a "mega conspiracy''.
During his appearance on Friday morning, Dotcom said
he has had unwanted letters from female prisoners and a phone call from a man
claiming to be a prosecutor while on remand.
Crown lawyer Anne Toohey, on behalf of the U.S government, told the court that a man known to have forged travel documents
had also tried to visit Dotcom since he has been on remand in the
Auckland central remand prison.
But Dotcom, who has New Zealand residency and lives with his family, said he had not heard of the person and had no intention
of fleeing to his birth country where he cannot be extradited to the U.S.
"I'm aware that if I go to Germany I would be
unable to un-freeze my assets. What I want to do is stay here to fight and get
my money back. What would I do in Germany with five kids and a wife with no
money? It is not an option for me.''
He said a man called him at prison asking for money in
return for a favorable bail hearing. Dotcom said the man claimed to be a
"prosecutor'' and he had reported it to the authorities.
Dotcom told the court that during the raid he was
punched in the face by police in his panic room. "And one guy was standing
on my hand. It was bleeding,'' he revealed.
Toohey said police maintained Dotcom had resisted
police. She asked about a gun in an open safe in the panic room where Dotcom
was arrested.
Dotcom said he had the gun loaded with a plastic round for
self-defense. However, Toohey said the firearm was also loaded with shells
containing buckshot.
Local media reported that Dotcom had a swimming pool
filled with imported spring water, while a waitress who worked at the mansion
told Women's Weekly magazine that fittings included gold toilet roll holders
and silver plates.
A
documentary uploaded online shows Dotcom, surrounded by topless women, spraying
champagne on board a super-yacht during a "crazy weekend" in Monaco
that reportedly cost $10 million.
"Fast
cars, hot girls, super-yachts and amazing parties. Decadence rules," said
the blurb accompanying the documentary, which Dotcom dedicated to "all my
fans".
The
portly millionaire also reportedly had a butler in his mansion whose duties
included retrieving stray ping pong balls when Dotcom was playing table tennis.[VARIOUS SOURCES]
Related articles:
“I Want To Fight And Get My Money Back”, Dotcom
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February 03, 2012
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Reviewed by theacehglobe
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February 03, 2012
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