Internet mogul Kim Dotcom to be extradited from New Zealand to US

NEWS WIRES

15 August 2024 at 5:48 pm·1-min read

Kim Dotcom, the founder of the now-defunct file-sharing site Megaupload, will be extradited from New Zealand to the United States, New Zealand's justice minister said. German-born Dotcom moved to New Zealand in 2010 and has faced potential extradition since his 2012 arrest. The US Justice Department has charged him with criminal copyright infringement, money laundering, racketeering and wire fraud.

Kim Dotcom, who is facing criminal charges relating to the defunct file-sharing website Megaupload, will be extradited to the United States from New Zealand, the New Zealand justice minister said on Thursday.

German-born Dotcom, who has New Zealand residency, has been fighting extradition to the United States since 2012 following a FBI-ordered raid on his Auckland mansion.

Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith signed an extradition order for Dotcom, a spokesperson for the Minister of Justice said

“I considered all of the information carefully and have decided that Mr Dotcom should be surrendered to the US to face trial,” Goldsmith said in a statement.

“As is common practice, I have allowed Mr Dotcom a short period of time to consider and take advice on my decision. I will not, therefore, be commenting further at this stage.”

In a post on social media website X on Tuesday, Dotcom said "the obedient US colony in the South Pacific just decided to extradite me for what users uploaded to Megaupload", in what appears to be a reference to the extradition order.

Reuters could not immediately contact Dotcom for a response.

(Reuters)

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