Megaupload"s founder Kim Dotcom has proclaimed his innocence in the online piracy charges filed against him by the US government. Reuters reports that Dotcom (previously known as Kim Schmitz) pleaded innocent during a bail hearing today in New Zealand where he and three other members of Megaupload are fighting the charges and extradition to the US.
Dotcom proclaimed his innocence via a statement from his attorney Paul Davison, who told the judge in the bail hearing, "Mr Dotcom emphatically denies any criminal misconduct or wrongdoing, and denies the existence of a Mega Conspiracy."
Davison also told the judge that Dotcom posed no flight risk as his passports had been seized and his own funds have been frozen. However, the case"s prosecutor Anne Toohey said that Dotcom could get access to others funds that have not been frozen and could easily arrange to be transported. Toohey also said that Dotcom had a history of using multiple identities.
Dotcom and three other team members of Megaupload are having their bail hearings pleas heard separately rather than as a group. The judge in the case is expected to make a bail ruling on Dotcom and the other three Megaupload members later today.