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Kim Dotcom declares he is 'broke' because of legal fight | Kim Dotcom declares he is 'broke' because of legal fight |
(2 days later) | |
Kim Dotcom, the founder of the seized file-sharing site Megaupload, has declared himself "broke". | Kim Dotcom, the founder of the seized file-sharing site Megaupload, has declared himself "broke". |
The entrepreneur said he had spent $10m (£6.4m) on legal costs since being arrested in New Zealand in 2012 and accused of internet piracy. | The entrepreneur said he had spent $10m (£6.4m) on legal costs since being arrested in New Zealand in 2012 and accused of internet piracy. |
Mr Dotcom had employed a local law firm to fight the US's attempt to extradite him, but his defence team stepped down a fortnight ago without explaining why. | Mr Dotcom had employed a local law firm to fight the US's attempt to extradite him, but his defence team stepped down a fortnight ago without explaining why. |
Mr Dotcom said he would now represent himself at a bail hearing on Thursday. | Mr Dotcom said he would now represent himself at a bail hearing on Thursday. |
He denies charges of racketeering, conspiring to commit copyright infringement and money laundering. | He denies charges of racketeering, conspiring to commit copyright infringement and money laundering. |
He told a conference in London, via a video link, that his lawyers had resigned because he had run out of money. | He told a conference in London, via a video link, that his lawyers had resigned because he had run out of money. |
"The [US authorities] have certainly managed to drain my resources and dehydrate me, and without lawyers I am defenceless," he told the audience at the Unbound Digital event. | |
"They used that opportunity to try and get my bail revoked and that's what I'm facing." | "They used that opportunity to try and get my bail revoked and that's what I'm facing." |
The law firm Simpson Grierson, which had represented Mr Dotcom, could not be reached for comment. | The law firm Simpson Grierson, which had represented Mr Dotcom, could not be reached for comment. |
Political backlash | Political backlash |
Mr Dotcom's declaration comes seven months after he won back access to about $750,000 worth of property - including several of his cars - that had been taken at the time of his arrest. However, other assets, including dozens of bank accounts, remained frozen. | Mr Dotcom's declaration comes seven months after he won back access to about $750,000 worth of property - including several of his cars - that had been taken at the time of his arrest. However, other assets, including dozens of bank accounts, remained frozen. |
The German national's finances have also been put under strain after he helped bankroll a political party that failed to win a seat in September's general election in New Zealand. | The German national's finances have also been put under strain after he helped bankroll a political party that failed to win a seat in September's general election in New Zealand. |
"Before I started my political movement - the Internet Party - I was quite popular in New Zealand," Mr Dotcom told the digital business conference. | "Before I started my political movement - the Internet Party - I was quite popular in New Zealand," Mr Dotcom told the digital business conference. |
"After I got involved in politics and the prime minister of New Zealand and his party attacked me viciously, labelling me a Nazi... and [saying] I'm only starting my political party to fight my extradition... New Zealanders unfortunately have bought into that narrative and today I'm a pariah. | "After I got involved in politics and the prime minister of New Zealand and his party attacked me viciously, labelling me a Nazi... and [saying] I'm only starting my political party to fight my extradition... New Zealanders unfortunately have bought into that narrative and today I'm a pariah. |
"The witch-hunt worked, and everyone wants to see me burn, and next Thursday I might go to jail because of that." | "The witch-hunt worked, and everyone wants to see me burn, and next Thursday I might go to jail because of that." |
Mr Dotcom does, however, continue to retain a lawyer in the US, who gave an interview to Radio New Zealand after Mr Dotcom's comments. | Mr Dotcom does, however, continue to retain a lawyer in the US, who gave an interview to Radio New Zealand after Mr Dotcom's comments. |
"There are assets frozen across the globe, there are mechanisms in place for getting relief from those frozen assets - we're hopeful that courts across the globe, including in Hong Kong and New Zealand, will do the right thing and release funds to counsel," said Ira Rothken. | "There are assets frozen across the globe, there are mechanisms in place for getting relief from those frozen assets - we're hopeful that courts across the globe, including in Hong Kong and New Zealand, will do the right thing and release funds to counsel," said Ira Rothken. |
"This is the largest copyright case in the history of the United States and New Zealand. It's a very expensive case. And the governments are making this a war of attrition. | "This is the largest copyright case in the history of the United States and New Zealand. It's a very expensive case. And the governments are making this a war of attrition. |
"They're trying to outspend Kim Dotcom. They are trying to win on procedure rather than merit. And we're going to do the best that we can so Kim Dotcom has a fair playing field." | "They're trying to outspend Kim Dotcom. They are trying to win on procedure rather than merit. And we're going to do the best that we can so Kim Dotcom has a fair playing field." |
He added there were still about 20 lawyers working on the case. | He added there were still about 20 lawyers working on the case. |
Mr Dotcom launched a follow-up online storage company, Mega, in 2013, and in March said it was valued at 210m New Zealand dollars ($164m; £104m). | Mr Dotcom launched a follow-up online storage company, Mega, in 2013, and in March said it was valued at 210m New Zealand dollars ($164m; £104m). |
The business is set to be floated on New Zealand's stock exchange later this year. | The business is set to be floated on New Zealand's stock exchange later this year. |
However, he does not directly own a stake in the business himself and is no longer one of its directors. | However, he does not directly own a stake in the business himself and is no longer one of its directors. |
His wife, Mona, does own 16.2% of its shares, but the two are separated. Ms Dotcom revealed in June that she had moved into a guest house about 50m (164ft) away from Mr Dotcom's mansion so their five children could still be close to their father. | His wife, Mona, does own 16.2% of its shares, but the two are separated. Ms Dotcom revealed in June that she had moved into a guest house about 50m (164ft) away from Mr Dotcom's mansion so their five children could still be close to their father. |
Mr Dotcom has revealed that his rent is pre-paid until mid-2015 and he plans to return to court "soon" to try to unfreeze more of his assets. | Mr Dotcom has revealed that his rent is pre-paid until mid-2015 and he plans to return to court "soon" to try to unfreeze more of his assets. |
The next extradition hearing into his case is not scheduled until February 2015, providing him an opportunity to hire more local lawyers if he can obtain the funds. | The next extradition hearing into his case is not scheduled until February 2015, providing him an opportunity to hire more local lawyers if he can obtain the funds. |
"Not having legal representation should not prevent an individual from challenging extradition proceedings if he or she has good grounds to do so," Neil Smyth, a partner at the law firm Taylor Wessing, told the BBC. | "Not having legal representation should not prevent an individual from challenging extradition proceedings if he or she has good grounds to do so," Neil Smyth, a partner at the law firm Taylor Wessing, told the BBC. |
"However, the process is such that having advisers that are experts on not only the law, but also the procedure and the tactics, undoubtedly gives that individual a greater advantage in fighting extradition." | "However, the process is such that having advisers that are experts on not only the law, but also the procedure and the tactics, undoubtedly gives that individual a greater advantage in fighting extradition." |
The US Justice Department claims Megaupload made more than $175m before it was closed and cost film, TV and other rights-holders more than $500m. | The US Justice Department claims Megaupload made more than $175m before it was closed and cost film, TV and other rights-holders more than $500m. |
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