Kim Dotcom: IPCA clears top cop of perjury

Kim Dotcom speaks to the Hearld on Sunday about Mondays forthcoming revelations. 13 September 2014 Herald on Sunday photograph by Michael Craig WGP 27Dec14 - VICTIM?: Kim Dotcom WAG 29Dec

There is no evidence a top cop committed perjury while giving evidence in a court case involving Kim Dotcom, the Independent Police Conduct Authority has found.

In August 2012 Detective Inspector Grant Wormald gave evidence in the High Court in Auckland relating to the search and arrest warrants executed by police at Dotcom's Coatesville property.

During the cross-examination Mr Wormald was asked twice whether he was aware of surveillance of Dotcom by police or any other New Zealand Government organisation before January 19, 2012. He said he was not.

Later that year media reported the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) had intercepted the communications of Dotcom and an associate before the warrants were executed.

Following media reports on TVOne and TV3, stating that Mr Wormald's evidence had been shown to be untrue, a complaint was laid by Paul Davison QC alleging the inspector knew the evidence was false and misleading. Mr Davison requested a criminal investigation into possible perjury.

The police found no evidence of perjury.

In releasing today's report, IPCA chairman Judge Sir David Carruthers said that, given the public interest in this matter and the conclusion reached by the police investigation, the authority conducted its own investigation to satisfy itself there had been no police impropriety during the court proceedings.

"The authority has found that the cross-examination of Detective Inspector Wormald was designed to discover whether Mr Dotcom had been the subject of visual surveillance, not whether his communications had been intercepted. Mr Wormald's interpretation of the questions being asked of him was entirely reasonable and his answers were not in any way false or misleading.

"The suggestion that he intended to mislead the Court is without foundation," Sir David said.

Police Assistant Commissioner Malcolm Burgess said the report vindicated Mr Wormald, who is an "extremely experienced and dedicated career police officer, with the highest standards of integrity and professionalism".

"The allegations, when made, subjected Detective Inspector Wormald to intense media speculation and baseless, ill-informed commentary about his integrity.

"One can only hope equal prominence will be given to coverage of the Authority's report exonerating Mr Wormald."

"Welcome to Zimbabwe," said Kim Dotcom after the IPCA report threw out the complaint.

Dotcom said there was a developing pattern of rulings against him.

"The GCSB spied illegally. Final result: Cleared. John Banks commits electoral fraud: Final result: Cleared. Cop commits perjury in Court Final result: Cleared. Police raided me unlawfully: Final result: Cleared. Kim Dotcom is speeding: Let's deport him and his family.

"There is a pattern here. One law for them and one law for us."