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Home / New Zealand

Mega-move: Kim Dotcom's bid to get Obama to appear in court over NZ damages case

Daily Mail
20 Mar, 2018 06:55 AM4 mins to read

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Kim Dotcom, left, wants Barack Obama to appear in court. Photos / File

Kim Dotcom, left, wants Barack Obama to appear in court. Photos / File

Internet entrepreneur Kim Dotcom said he has filed an application for former US President Barack Obama to appear in court in relation to a damages claim over his defunct Megaupload streaming website while Obama visits New Zealand this week.

German-born Dotcom is wanted by US law enforcement authorities on copyright and money-laundering allegations related to Megaupload, which was shut down in 2012 while Obama was president, after an FBI-ordered raid on his Auckland mansion, the Daily Mail reported.

He was indicted the same year along with fellow Megaupload executives.

There’s no media ban on the High Court action I’ve initiated against citizen @BarackObama today. I’m looking forward to him arriving in New Zealand. We will release our Court submission and supporting documents on Wednesday (NZ). https://t.co/S9QIYO9Uob

— Kim Dotcom (@KimDotcom) March 19, 2018

Dotcom, who has described the US prosecution as "politically motivated", and several other New Zealand-based defendants have denied the allegations. They also face potential extradition to the United States, which they have challenged.

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"The Obama administration was under pressure from Hollywood to 'get tough' on copyright enforcement or lose Hollywood's support," Dotcom said in a statement.

"We were the perfect target - successful, high profile, and based outside the United States," he said.

Obama's media team has yet to reply to an emailed request for comment.

In a separate case, Dotcom filed claims for damages of roughly $10 billion in December against US and New Zealand authorities "for the destruction of Megaupload" and the constraints on his liberty for more than seven years.

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Stay tuned. In a few hours you’ll get access to evidence that shows that the Megaupload raid was a White House operation spearheaded by Joe Biden with approval from @BarackObama. Yesterday we asked the High Court to let us question Obama while he’s in the New Zealand jurisdiction

— Kim Dotcom (@KimDotcom) March 19, 2018

When you read my Obama affidavit with exhibits to proof it you’ll be SHOCKED! New Zealand was complicit in a pay-for-play White House operation against a legitimate Internet business because Hollywood threatened to cut off $100m of funding to the Presidents 2nd term campaign.

— Kim Dotcom (@KimDotcom) March 19, 2018

Filed in the High Court yesterday:

“As the evidence above demonstrates, this improper purpose which was then embraced by the New Zealand authorities originated in the White House. It is therefore necessary to examine Mr Obama in this proceeding.”

Releasing documents shortly.

— Kim Dotcom (@KimDotcom) March 20, 2018

BREAKING:

Press release on why I’m asking the High Court for an urgent order to allow examination of @BarackObama while he’s in the New Zealand jurisdiction.https://t.co/9FHaRgpOnP

My affidavit as filed with evidence: https://t.co/nAvD1qY53m

— Kim Dotcom (@KimDotcom) March 20, 2018

Dotcom said he filed an application in Auckland, New Zealand's largest city, on Monday asking for Obama to give evidence in his damages claim during his visit to New Zealand.

"There is evidence that President Obama (as he then was) knew the real purpose behind the United States prosecution. That, and further evidence of political motivation in the United States and New Zealand, is set out in the affidavit I have filed in the High Court at Auckland," Dotcom said.

The court has yet to respond to the application and its response could come after Obama's departure.

Obama will be in New Zealand from Wednesday to Friday. He has meetings scheduled with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and former prime minister John Key before leaving for Sydney.

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Dotcom, who has New Zealand residency, became well known as much for his lavish lifestyle as for his computer skills.

Dozens of black-clad police raided Dotcom's mansion in 2012, breaking him out of a safe room and confiscating millions of dollars in cash and property, including a fleet of luxury cars, computers and art work.

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