Court allows internet entrepreneur Kim Dotcom to access Hong Kong funds
Judge says he can use money to fund living expenses and pay part of his legal costs
The High Court has allowed internet entrepreneur Kim Dotcom to access some of his restrained Hong Kong assets to pay part of his legal costs and for living expenses.
Deputy judge Wilson Chan Ka-shun found the German-born businessman had fully disclosed his financial situation to a New Zealand court earlier this year.
“I am satisfied that Dotcom is not able to meet his own [expenses],” the judge said.
As a New Zealand court had allowed Dotcom to access NZ$80,000 (HK$406,000) per month for his living expenses, Chan granted him the same amount from his Hong Kong assets.
But he only allowed Dotcom to use his assets to pay for part of his legal fees. He rejected two items – for a local law firm and a New Zealand company and lawyer Paul Davidson QC, who represented Dotcom at his extradition hearing in New Zealand, which ended last week.
US prosecutors are seeking his extradition over alleged involvement in copyright fraud, which allegedly earned him more than US$175 million in 2012.
Hong Kong customs officers, at the request of the US government, seized the assets of Dotcom and his company, Megaupload, on January 20, 2012. The court granted a restraining order to freeze the assets totalling more than HK$300 million.
Dotcom’s lawyer, Gerard McCoy SC, said he was facing 48 court orders around the world and he had used up all his money in New Zealand and therefore wanted to access his restrained funds in Hong Kong.
Prosecutor Wayne Walsh SC yesterday told the court that Dotcom lived a “Roll’s Royce lifestyle” in New Zealand and claimed he needed NZ$27,000 for rent, NZ$41,000 for household expenses and thousands of dollars to cover his electricity bills.