Dotcom makes the right call here

Hamish Rutherford at Stuff reports:

Kim Dotcom says he does not want political intervention in his extradition case, even if it was to prevent him being handed over to US authorities.

The internet multi-millionaire is wanted by the US, who are seeking to have him extradited over charges of copyright infringement in relation to his Megaupload website, claiming he cost the entertainment industry hundreds of millions of dollars. 

Earlier this year Green Party co-leader Russel Norman said while he had made no promises to Dotcom, he did not believe there was a case for the German to be extradited and he did not support the process.

Dotcom is fighting extradition, but in an interview with Q&A screened this morning, said he was unhappy with suggestions of political interference.

“I was quite unhappy when some politicians suggested that they might interfere with the judicial process. If a court ultimately finds that I should be extradited, I don’t want any political interference, alright? I’m not asking for it.”

Excellent. That should be noted for the future.

While the Minister of Justice makes the final decision, the criteria for them are normally pretty narrow such as if the death penalty could be applied etc. So it is good to see Dotcom saying he doesn’t want the Minister to refuse his extradition if the New Zealand courts finds the extradition order is valid.