Dotcom fears for his kids' future

Kim Dotcom fears he will be separated from his five children: Kaylo, 8, Kobi, 5, Keera, 3, Kimmo, 6, and Kylee 3.

Kim Dotcom will be devastated if his court bid tomorrow fails to stop extradition.

Internet tycoon Kim Dotcom says the prospect of being wrenched from his children is unbearable.

On the eve of his long-awaited court battle to fight extradition to the US, Dotcom says being separated from his young family is the thing he dreads the most.

It is more than 3 years since police raided Dotcom's Coatesville mansion in January 2012.

He and three other Megaupload employees were arrested and charged with criminal copyright violations relating to the defunct file-sharing website.

Dotcom's extradition hearing is due to be heard in the North Shore District Court tomorrow.

He says the toll of fighting the New Zealand and US Governments has come at great cost to his family. "I fear for the future of my children," Dotcom told the Herald on Sunday.

"Being separated from my kids would be devastating. My children have suffered a great deal."

In May last year, Dotcom revealed his five-year marriage to Mona Dotcom was over. The pair have four children and Dotcom has a daughter from a previous relationship.

Harvard Law professor Lawrence Lessig, one of the world's leading experts on copyright, this week released a review of the Dotcom case and said there was no basis for extradition.

But Dotcom said the US Government had indicated strongly it wanted to put him behind bars. It refused his offer to surrender for trial if it guaranteed bail, living and legal expenses.

"I would have to rely on a public defender in the 'largest copyright case in US history'," he said.

"This is a novel test case and the US Government is fighting an internet innovator with the most draconian and extreme methods.

"I'm shielding them [my children] as much as I can," he said.

He would stay in New Zealand until his legal cases were resolved but after that, plans were uncertain. "Almost every Government department I had to deal with has abused their powers," he said. "If I win the extradition battle they will try to deport me. I'm getting the message I'm not welcome here."

Dotcom revealed that in the darkest hours, friends in cyberspace had offered vital support.

Dotcom's case

On Monday Kim Dotcom faces an extradition hearing, which could see him and three co-accused - Mathias Ortmann, Bram van der Kolk and Finn Batato - sent to the US to face trial on charges of criminal copyright violation.

The Auckland hearing decides whether there is enough evidence to suggest there is a case to answer.

It comes more than three years after police raided the Dotcom mansion. Since, he has been mired in controversy, including a legal battle about John Banks' mayoral campaign, an immigration row over his undisclosed speeding conviction and a failed tilt at politics.