Flight risks, firearms charges and an inflatable tank are just some of the latest wrinkles in the bizzare case of Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom. After his arrest, Dotcom's mansion received delivery of a full-size inflatable replica of a Russian T-72 tank, which is now parked in front of the "Dotcom Mansion" and is busy infuriating the upscale neighbors. The T-72 "Threat Decoy" is similar to those used by the military for field training and intelligence deception, manufactured by companies such as Inflatable Images in the US and Russia's Rusbal; each sells for thousands of dollars.
The New Zealand Herald also reports that Judge David McNaughton, who is presiding over the extradition hearing for Dotcom and his associates in Auckland, denied bail to Dotcom based partially on secret evidence regarding the "porous nature" of New Zealand's borders and how easily someone like Dotcom could slip away—even with electronic monitoring. The judge said that "with sufficient determination and financial resources, flight risk remains a real and significant possibility." Because Dotcom has already obtained passports under three names, there was concern that he could easily obtain a false passport through "criminal connections" to sneak out of the country by sea or by small plane.
The judge did grant bail to Megaupload chief marketing officer Finn Batato, a long-time associate of Dotcom dating back to his German security firm DataProtect (Batato was a co-star of Dotcom's "Kimble Goes Monaco" movie); he also approved bail for Bram van der Kolk, a lead programmer for the company. Mathias Ortmann, another longtime associate of Dotcom from his DataProtect days—who was credited in Dotcom's Monaco adventure extravaganza under the nickname "Scuzzy"—is also being held, pending more submissions on his behalf for bail. Batato and van der Kolk's bail carries a ban on owning or using a device capable of connecting to the Internet.
A $2.5 million discrepancy in Ortmann's income information is part of the problem. Ortmann reportedly made $14.5 million from Megaupload between 2005 and 2010, and $3 million in 2011. However, his bank records show income of $20.2 million over the same period.
A 2007 Skype text chat between van der Kolk and and Ortmann was included in material presented to Judge McNaughton. In the conversation, van der Kolk wrote that "if the shit really hits the fan .would (Dotcom) grab the last bit of money and take off he's good at that." Attorney for the Crown Anne Toohey used the statement as proof of the mistrust of Dotcom among his associates and an indicator of what he might do if released on bail. Dotcom's lawyer, Paul Davidson, said that the conversation had been taken out of context and that his client had no desire to be a fugitive.
Meanwhile, Dotcom's head of security, Wayne Phillip Tempero, is facing firearms charges for providing Dotcom with the semi-automatic shotgun which was found in Dotcom's safe room when police cut their way in during his arrest. Tempero said that the gun had been purchased under a valid New Zealand license, and Davidson told the court that the saferoom and gun were for the safety of Dotcom's family. Dotcom's wife Mona is a former model from the Philippines, and Davidson explained that kidnapping of the rich and famous was common there—so the guns, the bodyguard, and the saferoom were needed as protection from that threat.
There was no mention of the inflatable tank.
Listing image by Photograph by www.rusdecoy.com
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