A New Zealand court has turned down an appeal by the founder of online file-sharing site Megaupload.com to be freed on bail.
The judge agreed with prosecutors that there was a risk he would attempt to flee before an extradition hearing.
Kim Dotcom, a German national also known as Kim Schmitz and Kim Tim Jim Vestor, was returned to custody until 22 February ahead of a hearing on an extradition application by the US.
The High Court in Auckland said the lower court judge was right to rule there was a significant risk Dotcom, who had passports and bank accounts in three names, might try to flee the country.
“The judge correctly concluded that the risk of flight cannot be mitigated by the imposition of conditions, including electronic monitoring
There was nothing to tie Dotcom to New Zealand except his motivation to fight the charges and get his funds, Justice Raynor Asher said.
“The judge correctly concluded that the risk of flight cannot be mitigated by the imposition of conditions, including electronic monitoring,” said prosecutor Anne Toohey.
Prosecutors say Dotcom was the ringleader of a group that has netted $175 million since 2005 by copying and distributing music, movies and other copyrighted content without authorisation.
Dotcom’s lawyers say the company simply offered online storage and that he strenuously denies the charges and will fight extradition.
Dotcom, 38, and three others, were arrested on January 20 after armed New Zealand police raided his country estate at the request of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation.
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