Dotcom extradition case delayed until August

Kim Dotcom. Photo / Sarah Ivey

The extradition bid to force Kim Dotcom to the United States has been further delayed and will not be heard in court until August.

The alleged internet pirate was originally expected to fight extradition in the months after his arrest in January.

Complications revealed in the investigation, including illegal spying on the Megaupload millionaire prior to the raid on his mansion, had pushed the hearing to the first half of next year.

The courts confirmed today that Dotcom's four-week hearing had been set down to start on August 12.

It is expected to run until September 6.

He face allegations of money laundering, online piracy, racketeering and mass copyright infringement.

With appeals likely to follow any initial ruling on extradition, the case could extend into 2014.

Meanwhile, the Green Party says it has been advised by the police that an investigation into whether the Government Communications Security Bureau's surveillance of Dotcom was legal has been held up by the bureau becoming a party to his legal proceedings in the High Court.

The police wrote to Greens co-leader Norman today to say they expected to give him an update on the investigation early next year.

Information and disclosure related to the court cases were impacting on the technical processes in the police investigation, the police reportedly told Dr Norman.

Police are investigating after Dr Norman asked them to establish whether the bureau breached the Crimes Act through its surveillance of Dotcom.

"While we understand the difficulties involved in the court case proceeding while aspects of the GCSB's involvement are under investigation by the police, this investigation must come to a conclusion in its own right,'' Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei said.

"Our spies are subject to the laws of this land. They must be held accountable by the police and the courts when they violate those laws.

"The police, being the ones who called in the GCSB and who are now in court with the GCSB against Dotcom, must take extra effort to ensure the independence of their investigation into whether GCSB's illegal spying broke the Crimes Act.

"I take this letter to mean that police are taking such issues seriously, and are formulating measures to make sure the public can have confidence in the robustness of their criminal investigation,'' Mrs Turei said.