Kim Dotcom Appeal: Arrest Was Like an Audition to 'American Idol'
Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom could be headed back to jail after an appeals court request has been made to overturn the decision, which released Dotcom from prison on $4.3 million bail. Dotcom relayed the incident of his arrest to an "American Idol" audition.
Kim Dotcom, born Kim Schmitz, is a German-born computer programmer and businessman who was arrested in January after authorities charged him with facilitating millions of illegal downloads.
"I am relieved to go home to see my family, my three little kids and my pregnant wife," Dotcom said in a statement. "And I hope you understand that that is all I want to say right now."
Get Our Latest News for FREE
The millionaire businessman was initially denied bail when was presumed to be too great of a flight risk. During his January arrest in Coatesville, Auckland, police were forced to cut Dotcom out of a safe house in his rented mansion, where he had barricaded himself.
The crown is acting on behalf U.S. authorities, U.S. Federal prosecutors charged that Dotcom had cost copyright holders more than $620 million in lost revenue through pirated material. Megaupload Limited was founded in 2005 as a file hosting and sharing business. The Hong-Kong based company retained over 175 employees and earned as much as $175 million in revenue.
Authorities have referred to the company as a "worldwide" crime organization. The FBI will seek to extradite Dotcom to the U.S., where he and associates will face multiple charges including criminal copyright infringement.
MSN reported that the company served as a front to offer users copyrighted downloads.
"Although the sites they operate advertised that they provide personal storage for users' content, the indictment claims they actually trafficked in hosting television shows and movies – often offering them to users before their official release," the site stated.
Dotcom also stated that he would fight extradition to the United States. He was also asked about police treatment. "Well, it felt a little bit like an audition to 'American Idol,'" Dotcom responded.
