Kim Dotcom’s Extradition to the US Approved by New Zealand Justice Minister

• New Zealand's Justice Ministry finally signed the extradition order that would send cybercriminal Kim Dotcom to the U.S.
• There, he is expected to stand trial and be criminally prosecuted for the accusations.
• However, the individual is still allowed to appeal this order and avoid extradition.

The New Zealand Justice Ministry informed the notorious cybercriminal Kim Dotcom, also known as Kimble and Kim Tim Jim Vestor, that they finally signed the extradition order on August 15 and that he would be deported to the U.S. to stand trial, with a criminal prosecution pending. Kim Dotcom declared he intends to appeal this order.

The Justice Minister announced that he carefully considered the extensive advice from the Ministry of Justice on this matter and decided Dotcom should be surrendered to the US to face trial. “As is common practice, I have allowed Mr Dotcom a short period of time to consider and take advice on my decision,” he added.

The German-Finnish Internet entrepreneur and political activist is also a hacker who was accused of trafficking in stolen phone calling card numbers, computer fraud, data espionage, and embezzlement throughout the years. 

When the U.S. seized file storage website Megaupload in 2012, he was also accused of criminal copyright infringement, money laundering, racketeering, and wire fraud. At the request of US authorities, New Zealand police raided his local home and arrested him, but the individual posted bail and initiated legal proceedings to prevent his extradition.

A New Zealand court ruled in 2017 that Dotcom could be extradited to the U.S. on fraud charges related to Megaupload, and the New Zealand Court of Appeal upheld the lower court's ruling the following year.

In 2020, the Supreme Court of New Zealand ruled that Kim Dotcom and his colleagues could be extradited to the U.S. but that he could challenge the decision through judicial review.

Megaupload defendants Mathias Ortmann and Bram van der Kolk eventually opted for a deal, pleading guilty, and served 30 months and 31 months prison sentences, respectively, in New Zealand.