22 Mar 2012

Court grants Kim Dotcom $60,000 a month

12:34 pm on 22 March 2012

The New Zealand-based businessman accused of global internet piracy has been granted up to $60,000 a month to live on while on bail.

Kim Dotcom and three other men, are on bail in Auckland while the US government seeks to extradite them to face charges in relation to their website Megaupload.

Authorities seized millions of dollars of assets belonging to Kim Dotcom and his wife Mona in January.

The couple have won a court battle to have some of their frozen assets released to cover their costs, including bodyguards and nannies.

A court ruling on Thursday approved the release of more than $300,000 from Mr Dotcom's RaboBank account in instalments of up to $40,000 a month.

In addition, the couple will receive a further $20,000 a month, to be derived from interest on New Zealand government bonds.

The couple's Mercedes Benz will be returned to them.