Megaupload Founder Kim Dotcom Claims He's Broke Due To Millions Of Dollars In Legal Fees
Having supposedly spent $10 million in legal fees since his arrest in New Zealand two years ago, Kim Dotcom now says he's broke, leaving him without legal representation as U.S. authorities try to have him extradited. If that happens, he'll face a some heavy charges, including racketeering, conspiring to commit copyright infringement, and money laundering.
The [U.S. authorities] have certainly managed to drain my resources and dehydrate me, and without lawyers I am defenseless," Dotcom said during a conference in London, via a video link. "They used that opportunity to try and get my bail revoked and that's what I'm facing."
Dotcom was arrested in 2012 when police raided is $24 million mansion in New Zealand. The island country's government cooperated with copyright enforcement agencies in the U.S. to detain Dotcom on charges that he aided copyright infringers through his Megaupload website.
According to a Business Insider report, Megaupload accounted for over 4 percent of Internet traffic during its peak. serving 50 million unique visitors daily.
Not all of Dotcom's money went towards legal fees. He also helped bankroll a political party in New Zealand, though it failed to win a seat in September's general election.
The next extradition hearing is scheduled for February, 2015.
The [U.S. authorities] have certainly managed to drain my resources and dehydrate me, and without lawyers I am defenseless," Dotcom said during a conference in London, via a video link. "They used that opportunity to try and get my bail revoked and that's what I'm facing."
Dotcom was arrested in 2012 when police raided is $24 million mansion in New Zealand. The island country's government cooperated with copyright enforcement agencies in the U.S. to detain Dotcom on charges that he aided copyright infringers through his Megaupload website.
According to a Business Insider report, Megaupload accounted for over 4 percent of Internet traffic during its peak. serving 50 million unique visitors daily.
Not all of Dotcom's money went towards legal fees. He also helped bankroll a political party in New Zealand, though it failed to win a seat in September's general election.
The next extradition hearing is scheduled for February, 2015.
