1 Jul 2012

Dotcom backs call for inquiry

5:29 am on 1 July 2012

Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom is supporting calls from the Green Party for an independent inquiry into the way New Zealand police have handled his case.

The Chief Justice of the High Court ruled last week that search warrants used in the raid on Mr Dotcom's house in January were invalid.

Justice Winkelmann also ruled the Crown should not have sent copies of some of the material seized to the FBI in the United States.

The Green Party says an agency such as the Independent Police Conduct Authority needs to scrutinise the actions of the police.

Mr Dotcom agrees and says people want answers about the way the police planned and executed the raid on his Coatesville house.

He is also interested in how the New Zealand Government dealt with the United States agencies and how much political pressure was applied before the raid.

Megaupload was indicted in a federal court in Virginia, USA, on 19 January this year and the site was shut down. Mr Dotcom and three co-accused were arrested in Auckland, New Zealand, the following day.

Formal papers requesting their extradition were lodged by the United States in early March.