Dotcom, police reach settlement
Internet millionaire Kim Dotcom has reached a confidential settlement in his lawsuit against the New Zealand police over a raid on his family home in 2012, according to a statement released yesterday.
Dotcom had claimed police used unreasonable force during the raid, which was supported by the FBI, and described it as a ‘‘Hollywood-style publicity stunt tailored to appease US authorities’’.
He said he had been punched and kicked by police, and that his family had been held at gunpoint
"We do not want to relive past events."
Internet millionaire Kim Dotcom
when ‘‘[police] could have easily knocked at our door at a reasonable hour and advised me of my arrest’’.
Dotcom said he and his former wife Mona had decided on a settlement — instead of going to trial — due to the change in government and to protect their five children’s wellbeing.
Dotcom was charged with engaging in a racketeering conspiracy; conspiring to commit copyright infringement and money laundering; and criminal copyright infringement through his file-sharing site Megaupload.
Police executed a search warrant of Dotcom’s mansion on January 20, 2012, seizing 135 electronic items, including laptops, computers, portable hard drives, flash storage devices and servers.
About $11.8 million worth of Dotcom’s assets were also seized.
‘‘We sued the police because we believed their military-style raid on a family with children in a nonviolent case went far beyond what a civilised community should expect from its police force,’’ Dotcom said in yesterday’s statement.
‘‘Until recently, Mona and I wanted vindication in the High Court so that those involved would take responsibility for the raid.
‘‘[But] we have taken time to consider whether a trial would be in the best interests of our family.
‘‘The New Zealand Government has recently changed for the better.
‘‘Our children are now settled and integrated safely here into their community and they love it. We do not want to relive past events. We do not want to disrupt our children’s new lives.’’