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Extradition papers filed against Dotcom

AUCKLAND, New Zealand, March 5 (UPI) -- U.S. prosecutors have filed papers seeking to extradite Kim Dotcom, the MegaUpload founder accused of online piracy of copyright works, from New Zealand.

A spokeswoman for New Zealand's Justice Ministry said the formal papers were received Friday at the North Shore District Court in Auckland, PCWorld.com reported.

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Dotcom, several colleagues and two companies, including MegaUpload, were indicted by a U.S. grand jury in January. They are charged with engaging in a racketeering conspiracy, conspiring to commit copyright infringement and money laundering, and two substantive counts of criminal copyright infringement.

Dotcom and colleagues Finn Batato, Mathias Ortmann and Bram van der Kolk were arrested in Auckland by New Zealand authorities executing provisional arrest warrants requested by U.S. prosecutors.

The High Court of New Zealand in Auckland has ruled Dotcom could stay free on bail until the extradition hearing that is not expected to take place until August.

Under his bail conditions, Dotcom is required to stay at his rented mansion outside of Auckland except for medical emergencies, wear an electronic monitoring bracelet and not use the Internet.

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