The men said they had\u00a0reached an agreement<\/a>\u00a0with the New Zealand Government and the United States to face charges in New Zealand instead. Once their \u2018new\u2019 case is heard in a local court, extradition proceedings will be dropped, meaning that just one person will remain a \u2018Mega Conspiracy\u2019 fugitive according to the US.<\/p>\n The charges against Ortmann and van der Kolk are believed to have been filed this week. The men say they are \u201csimilar\u201d to those brought against them in the United States but the world will have to wait a little longer to discover exactly what they are and, crucially, what kind of plea the defendants will subsequently enter. In the meantime, Dotcom says he knows how things will play out.<\/p>\n According to the Megaupload founder, his former friends will \u201cadmit liability\u201d and \u201cbecome witnesses\u201d against him. There is no public information to confirm these predictions but if they do turn out to be accurate, Dotcom\u2019s case could become even more complicated than it is now.<\/p>\n Dotcom says that, unlike his co-defendants, he will never accept the injustices that all four of them have suffered so his plan is to fight on. There\u2019s no reason to doubt that claim given Dotcom\u2019s track record but that raises the question of what the split parties are now fighting for and what that means for their respective futures.<\/p>\n Ortmann and van der Kolk (who are on record as wanting to \u201cmove on\u201d) no longer have to fight extradition, so in one sense they are already ahead of Dotcom. Their next challenge will be to deal with the charges against them by either mounting a full defense or admitting guilt, as Dotcom has suggested. That raises more questions.<\/p>\n In the last few hours, Dotcom said that if Ortmann and van der Kolk do admit liability, that will go against what they have argued all along, i.e none of the defendants in the \u201cMega Conspiracy\u201d did anything illegal.<\/p>\n \u201cMy co-defendants don\u2019t believe that they are criminals or members of an organized criminal group, they have said so repeatedly and that\u2019s the truth,\u201d Dotcom\u00a0wrote<\/a>.<\/p>\n Of course, the law allows defendants to change their position and in this case, it remains unclear what (if anything) they will admit liability for in a new set of charges. So what then of Dotcom\u2019s claim that Ortmann and van der Kolk will \u201cbecome witnesses\u201d against him, potentially undermining his legal position?<\/p>\n \u201cMy co-defendants can\u2019t help the DOJ [US Department of Justice]. We have hours of recorded conversations with them that make any testimony against me worthless. My co-defendants are aware of the recordings. I wonder if they disclosed that to the DOJ. Probably not,\u201d Dotcom\u00a0added<\/a>.<\/p>\n With Ortmann and van der Kolk\u2019s extradition battle all but over, questions are being raised over why they are in a seemingly favorable position and Dotcom is not. That should become clearer when the new charges are revealed and their official responses heard. In the meantime, Dotcom says that if they have the legal right to be put on trial in New Zealand, so should he.<\/p>\n Dotcom claims that his co-defendants have made a \u201cdeal of convenience\u201d but if they can have their case heard in New Zealand courts, he should have that opportunity too.<\/p>\n \u201cMy legal team may try to have my case heard in New Zealand Courts too, with a jury of New Zealanders,\u201d Dotcom says.<\/p>\n \u201cThe difference is I would never accept any charges and I will defend myself to clear my name. If New Zealand can decide the case of my co-defendants I should have the same right.\u201d<\/p>\n While Dotcom\u2019s massively talented and extremely expensive legal team will explore any and all available options, the \u201cagreement\u201d reached by Dotcom\u2019s colleagues with New Zealand and US authorities suggests that some kind of negotiation has taken place.<\/p>\n In New Zealand, the prosecution and defense can reach an understanding on what charges will result in a guilty plea. Actioned before trial, the prosecutor may reduce the number of charges and\/or charge the defendant(s) with less serious offenses. Other implications are the reduction of costs for all parties and the securing of a conviction, something a trial cannot guarantee.<\/p>\n Appropriate sentencing is decided by the court but a guilty plea for non-violent crimes can also yield significant sentencing discounts. However, the issue with all of the above is that in Dotcom\u2019s case, he is absolutely insistent he has done nothing wrong and won\u2019t accept anything that doesn\u2019t fully recognize that. It\u2019s a tough position to incorporate into any agreement requiring quid pro quos.<\/p>\n Nevertheless, Dotcom says the shift in his co-defendants\u2019 position means that \u201ca new portal has opened\u201d for his case too. That will no doubt be explored from every conceivable legal angle but in the meantime, he\u2019s criticizing governments both at home and abroad for the very existence of his predicament.<\/p>\n \u201cThe reality is the New Zealand Govt has allowed itself to become a party to a corrupt White House conspiracy to destroy #Megaupload in exchange for Hollywood donations to the Obama and Biden 2012 re-election campaign,\u201d he\u00a0concludes<\/a>.<\/p>\n Source: \u00a0The Fugitive Fighter & Former Friends<\/h2>\n
Uncertainty is Inevitable \u2013 But Can Be Managed<\/h2>\n
A New Zealand Jury Could Be Of Interest<\/h2>\n
![\"TorrentFreak\"](\"http:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/torrentfreak.png\")
<\/a> TorrentFreak.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"