Kim Dotcom asks Hong Kong court to release restrained funds to cover legal and living costs

Internet entrepreneur Kim Dotcom, who is wanted by the US government over a US$175 million copyright fraud, has asked a Hong Kong court to release about HK$18 million to cover legal costs and HK$405,000 in monthly payments for his living expenses.

Dotcom, the founder of Megaupload, completed a 45-day extradition hearing in New Zealand last week.

His legal team in Hong Kong is asking the High Court to change the terms of his restraint order in the city so that Dotcom can access his funds to pay his legal fees and cover his living expenses.

His lawyer, Gerard McCoy SC, said the businessman’s “hands were tied behind his back”. He claimed if Dotcom was denied access to his money because of the order, it would be akin to “not allowing him to use his own money to defend the cases against him”.

The lawyer said Dotcom was represented by a “world-class” legal team in the New Zealand hearing, but since he had no money to pay them he had to use junior lawyers.

McCoy noted that the entrepreneur was facing 48 court orders around the world, and was asking for NZ$3 million (HK$15.2 million) plus HK$3 million for legal costs.