U.S. crime-fighters failed in a bid to keep alleged Internet pirate Kim Dotcom behind bars on Wednesday when a New Zealand court freed him from jail and instead put him under effective house arrest and banned him from using the Internet.
The court, in upholding a bail application by the German founder of file-sharing website Megaupload, cast some doubt on the multi-millionaire's purported flight risk pending an extradition hearing scheduled for August.
"I'm relieved to go home and see my three little kids and my pregnant wife," a smiling Dotcom, 38, said after the ruling, as he was hustled toward a waiting car by supporters and lawyers.
Wearing his usual black T-shirt, trouser and jacket, he vowed to fight the eventual extradition hearing on U.S. charges of copyright piracy, racketeering and money-laundering.
Kim Dotcom, who has New Zealand residency and is also known as Kim Schmitz and Kim Tim Jim Vestor, had been in custody since his arrest in a military-style raid on January 20 on his mansion outside Auckland by local police acting on a U.S. warrant.
Under the bail conditions, Dotcom, who kept a private helicopter as part of his lavish lifestyle, must live in a small house near the mansion he had rented and wear an... Source/Origin >> Read More
