They don't even fit

mypantsareonfire:

A group of alleged internet pirates who ran the world’s largest file-sharing site from New Zealand have been denied bail.

“Mega Conspiracy” accused Kim Dotcom, 37, who founded the Megaupload.com site and ran it from his $30 million Auckland mansion, appeared in the North Shore District Court this afternoon, following an early-morning raid.

Co-accused Finn Batato, 38, and chief technical officer and co-founder Mathias Ortmann, 40, both from Germany, and Dutch national Bram van der Kolk, 29 also appeared.

All four crammed into the dock, with Dotcom - also known as Kim Schmitz or Kim Tim Jim Vestor - at the front, flexing his hands by his sides.

Judge David McNaughton first considered multiple media applications to photograph the accused.

Dotcom’s lawyer initially opposed the appearance of cameras in court, but Dotcom spoke out from the dock, saying he didn’t mind photos or video.

“Because we have nothing to hide.”

After the media crowded in, McNaughton said the four would be remanded in custody until another bail hearing on Monday.

Media were given 10 seconds to take photos, however the judge cut them off after five.

Dotcom and van der Kolk are both New Zealand residents. The other two were visitors, Detective Inspector Grant Wormald from the Organised and Financial Crime Agency NZ (OFCANZ) said at a conference this afternoon.

Indictment documents from the United States Court for the Eastern District of Virginia list five counts against the seven defendents, which it calls the “Mega Conspiracy”.

They include conspiring to commit racketeering, conspiracy to commit copyright infringement, conspiracy to commit money laundering, criminal copyright infringement by distributing material and by electronic means.

The charges could result in more than 20 years in prison.

Three others involved in the “conspiracy” - Julius Bencko, 35, from Slovakia, Sven Echternach, 39, from Germany and Andrus Nomm, 32, from Estonia - remained at large overseas, authorities said.

The US Justice Department and the FBI today said Megaupload.com and other related sites allegedly generated more than US$175 million (NZ$217m) in criminal proceeds and caused copyright holders more than US$500m in lost revenue from pirated films and other content.

Over NZ$10m has also been seized from NZ financial institutions, which have been secured by New Zealand’s Official Assignee pending the outcome of legal proceedings.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/6288082/NZ-residents-on-internet-piracy-charges-denied-bail