DOT.COM

Megaupload case near collapse

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/04/23/megaupload_case_in_trouble/

 

This is now old news already covered by the NZ Herald in more detail:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/?objectID=10797998&ref=emailfriend

Several weeks ago I sent a letter to the Commissioner of Police asking
(under the official information act) what the raid on DotCom's leased
estate cost. Having learn from previous experience, I phrased the
questions several ways so - hopefully - the bureaucrats can't wiggle
out of a full answer and not an "estimate" as reported in the Herald.

Late last week I received a letter of acknowledgement with the usual
"in due course" proviso. If I don't get a full answer or they refuse
to answer I'll take it further.

As a taxpayer I want to know exactly how much of OUR money was spent
on this grandstanding fiasco. 76 police, including members of the
Special Tactics Group and backed up by two helicopters, in order to
arrest four suspects ... only to discover that the NZ police hadn't
done the paperwork correctly and the entire case may be thrown out.

What a joke - at the taxpayer's expense!

 

It was a Show for the Yanks, may be all to do with these free trade
talks..

 

Here's the guts of the letter:


REQUEST FOR INFORMATION UNDER THE OFFICIAL INFORMATION ACT 1982

Dear Sir,

It was reported that on the morning of Friday 20 January 2012, 76
police officers, including members of the Special Tactics Group and
backed up by two helicopters, raided Dotcom's leased estate in
Auckland in order to arrest four individuals (TV3 News online).

It was also reported in Issue No. 354 February 2012 of TENONE (the New
Zealand Police's magazine online): "The high-profile operation centred
on Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom in Auckland was the culmination of
several months of careful planning by staff in Auckland and
Wellington."

The same article also states: "Ten search warrants were executed at
addresses across Auckland and equipment including computers and
documents were seized for evidential purposes."

I am writing to request the following information regarding that raid
on Dotcom's house on the morning of Friday 20 January 2012:

1. The total cost of the planning and execution of the raid on
Dotcom's estate.

2. If considered separately, the total cost of the Special Tactic
Group's participation.

3. If considered separately, the total cost of the helicopter backup.

4. If considered separately, the total cost of the application for and
execution of "Ten search warrants" that were "executed at addresses
across Auckland and equipment including computers and documents were
seized for evidential purposes."

5. If considered separately, the total coast of the "several months"
of planning - including the cost both the NZ Police and the Organised
& Financial Crime Agency New Zealand.

6. If considered separately or wholly, the total cost of the entire
operation from the planning stage, through execution - including all
of the components of the operation.

Thank you.

Your sincerely,

 

Why? What possible reason is there for letting the hoi polloi having
such information?

Cheers,

Cliff

 

Good point. After all, the pencil pushers, politicians and consultants
always know what's best for us. We should just leave them to get on
with telling us whatever that happens to be ... ;-)

 

No. There are leaders and there are followers. What is the point of
giving the followers information that they don't need?

Cheers,

Cliff

 

I'll let you know after I get the information.

 

Are you a leader or follower Cliff? If the latter, do you have
aspirations to the former?

Just asking.

 

<chuckle> Thanks for that.

 

You don't need it.

Cheers,

Cliff

 

I know. But I will anyway.

 

Everyone is a follower. A few are also leaders. There is no point in
disseminating useless information to everyone. If I were the government
I'd be making something up right now. After all the whole Dot Com
operation was funded by the recording industries, mainly in the state
and won't cost New Zealand a cent. It was also a good exercise, the
benefits of which will be realised when the government gets around to
incarcerating all the communists and camp-followers like yourself.

Cheers,

Cliff

 

That's your opinion. OPINION. And not only don't I agree with it, it's
my opinion that you're not correct about the money - or at least NZD
70,000.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/?objectID=10797998&ref=emailfriend

But unlike you, I intend to find out the facts so at least I form an
informed decision. If you're not interested in them then ignore them -
like you did the article .



Dotcom arrest costs taxpayer $70,000 - so far

By David Fisher
5:30 AM Wednesday Apr 11, 2012

Taxpayers spent about $70,000 on the operation to arrest Kim Dotcom
and seize his luxury cars and art.

The cost doesn't include the cost of police staff, Crown lawyers
acting on behalf of the United States or time spent in court.

The January 20 raid set in motion the US Department of Justice case
against Dotcom. The United States is trying to extradite Dotcom on
charges of criminal copyright violation relating to his file-sharing
Megaupload website.

Figures gained under the Official Information Act show police
estimated the cost of arresting Dotcom at $11,482. The figure did not
include police salaries.

The cars and luxury items taken from the home set taxpayers back
another $62,271 with $25,000 alone spent on moving Dotcom's more
expensive belongings.

Insurance for the belongings for seven weeks, which include an
estimated $6 million in cars, had cost about $6800 even though they
have been securely shut away in a warehouse since being seized.

Dotcom was an enthusiastic collector of luxury cars, ranging from a
2008 Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe to a 1959 Cadillac El Dorado. He also
had a collection of late-model Mercedes.

Once prized possessions, the cars are now expected to be auctioned in
a deal struck between Dotcom's lawyers and Crown lawyers acting for
the US.

The auction would be carried out with only a few cars at a time to
avoid devaluing the collection.

Even though the case might be costing taxpayers, New Zealand does
stand to come out ahead if Dotcom is convicted in the US.

The goods are frozen but a successful conviction could see his fortune
forfeited as tainted criminal proceeds.

Official Assignee Guy Sayers said there was no mechanism for funds
seized by Dotcom to be transferred to the US. He said forfeited goods
would be transferred to the New Zealand government and become part of
the Crown accounts.

A failed case by the US would leave the taxpayer exposed. Police
commissioner Peter Marshall last week gave the High Court formal
notice it would be the focus of any liability case by Dotcom if he
were to sue.

Meanwhile, Dotcom has filed legal papers in US courts after moves to
allow Megaupload's databases to be wiped.

Megaupload's members stored their files on more than 1100 computer
servers owned by Carpathia Hosting, the company which was raided by
the FBI as Dotcom was being arrested.

The FBI told Carpathia Hosting it could wipe the servers because
snapshots of data from two of the servers was enough to prosecute
Dotcom and his colleagues.

Carpathia sought a ruling from the court because keeping the data was
costing it money - but deleting it could leave it open to a law suit.

Dotcom said the US government was allowing destruction of evidence to
be used by the defence. He said Megaupload had wanted to buy Carpathia
Hosting's servers for $1.4 million but the Department of Justice would
not relax the freezing order to allow the money to be used.

The court papers state the FBI didn't explore the servers to look for
evidence "beyond loading up to prove its case" and was now trying to
block similar investigations by the defence.

BIG NUMBERS

* $70,000 was spent on the operation to arrest Kim Dotcom and seize
his luxury cars and art.
* This didn't include the cost of police staff, Crown lawyers acting
on behalf of the United States or time spent in court.
* Cars and luxury items taken from the home cost another $62,271.
* $25,000 was spent on moving Dotcom's more expensive belongings.

 

It's the governments job to spend the money. Not yours. If you don't
like it, form your own party and get yourself elected. Good luck to you.

Anyway, it is not my opinion, in lower case or in capitals. It is the
truth, and if you can't handle the truth, stay out of the game.

[Irrelevant stuff snipped].

Why? What on earth are you going to do with your 'informed decision'?
Write a stiff letter to your MP? Wave a placard? Tell other people?

Cheers,

Cliff

 

Again, that's just your opinion. And a rather puerile one at that IMO.
And if you really think you have to be elected before you can make a
difference, then you obviously haven't tried.

Wouldn't want to confuse you with facts.

As I've already said, I'll let you know after I get the information.
You might be happy being one of the flock, but I'm not.

 

Vote appropriately at the next election.

 

The police are leaders?? Surely this is sarcasm.

 

Do you think he was making a funny?

 

No. You have to get control before you can make a difference. Getting
elected is how we currently get control. If you don't have control all
you can do is make bleating noises. You will just be ignored.

It was irrelevant. What was done and what it cost is irrelevant. Of
course, if it gives you pleasure to feel outraged for some reason, feel
free. Some people get pleasure from the strangest things.

There's two sorts of sheep. Those who quietly munch grass and get on
with being sheep, and there's those that spend their time bleating. I
guess that they are the ones that aren't happy being one of the flock,
but in spite of their noise, they are still are.

Cheers,

Cliff