Dotcom facing deportation over speeding fine
Kim Dotcom’s ability to reside in New Zealand could be compromised after failing to declare a previous speeding conviction.
Five years after the incident, the online entrepreneur and founder of Megaupload is now under fire over his application for New Zealand residency, when he failed to declare his dangerous driving offense dating back in 2009.
One of the questions in the official application asks, “Have you or your family members included in your application ever been […] convicted of an offense including traffic offenses committed within the last five years, involving dangerous driving?”
The copy of his residency application, dated June 3, 2010, marks a clear ‘No’ in response to this question.
New Zealand authorities have now launched into a deportation inquiry, which could see Dotcom returned to Finland or his birth country Germany.
In 2009, Dotcom pleaded guilty to driving three times over the limit in a 50km/h zone.
He applied for his New Zealand residency eight months after the incident.
Dotcom is still facing his extradition hearing in a few months, which could result in his handover to the US.
He is facing allegations of conspiring to commit money laundering, racketeering, conspiring to commit copyright infringement and enabling online piracy.
The online tycoon was arrested on his New Zealand property in 2012 and has been battling extradition cases ever since. Dotcom stated in the unbound Digital conference last year that he had spent $US10 million in legal costs throughout the duration of his three year legal battle.
In 2014, the Aukland District Court rejected claims that Kim Dotcom was a flight risk and refused to remain him under New Zealand custody.
NZ Heraldreports that Dotcom believes it was a misunderstanding, under the impression that his advisors handling the application were aware of the conviction.
However, Dotcom took to Twitter this morning to express his frustrations.
“Dear Mr. Dotcom, here are your options: Extradition or Deportation. Regards, The New Zealand Government,” read the Tweet.