NZ police cut locks in Megaupload raid

NZ police cut locks in Megaupload raid
21-01-2012
RTHK


The mansion home of Megaupload founder Kim Schmitz. Photo: Reuters.
It's emerged that New Zealand police broke through electronic locks and cut their way into a mansion safe room to arrest the alleged kingpin of an international Internet copyright theft case and seize millions of dollars worth of cars, artwork and other goods.


German national Kim Dotcom, also known as Kim Schmitz, was one of four men arrested on Friday in an investigation of the Megaupload.com website led by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation.


The group was accused of engaging in a scheme that took more than US$500 million away from copyright holders and generated over $175 million in proceeds from subscriptions and advertising.


A police official said on Saturday that dozens of officers, backed by helicopters, forced their way into the mansion, nestled in lush farmland, after Mr Schmitz refused them entry to his home in Auckland.


The 37-year-old German citizen, who has New Zealand and Hong Kong residency, was denied bail with three other men on Friday when they appeared in an Auckland district court.


They will appear in court again on Monday.


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HK seizes $330 m in Megaupload raids
21-01-2012
RTHK


German internet millionaire Kim Schmitz also known as Kim Dotcom. Reuters file photo.
Customs officers have raided offices, domestic premises and luxury hotel suites in Hong Kong as part of a worldwide FBI Internet piracy investigation into file-sharing site Megaupload.com.


One hundred officers took part in the raids Friday which seized a large amount of digital evidence and uncovered about HK$330 million (US$42 million) in suspected crime proceeds, Customs said.


"The assets have been frozen in accordance with related ordinances. The operation is ongoing," it said in a statement.


Officers raided hotel suites costing HK$100,000 a day equipped with high-speed servers and large television screens which were suspected to be connected to the case.


Megaupload's website was shut down Thursday by US authorities who accuse it of one of the largest cases of copyright theft ever.


Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom, also known as Kim Schmitz, is being held in New Zealand following a police raid there.


The 37-year-old German citizen, who has New Zealand and Hong Kong residency, was denied bail with three other men on Friday when they appeared in an Auckland district court.


New Zealand police seized luxury cars worth NZ$6.0 million (US$4.8 million), including a 1959 pink Cadillac and a Rolls Royce Phantom, in a raid on Dotcom's Auckland mansion.