According to New Zealand's 3News, a district court judge Nevin Dawson said Dotcom wasn't a flight risk and had "every reason to stay" in the country. Prosecutors pointed out that Dotcom was a wealthy man with the resources to escape the country. However, authorities froze Dotcom's assets and seized his multiple passports when he was arrested, and the judge said the assumption was off base.
"The disposition that he is wealthy and must have more assets is not evidence," Judge Dawson said. "It would seem that he has every reason to stay (in New Zealand) to be with his family and to fight to keep his significant assets."
Dotcom is reported to be banned from using the Internet while on bail. Also on his forbidden list: helicopters. A date for his extradition hearing is expected to be set later today.
Another judge had previously denied Dotcom bail after New Zealand police arrested Dotcom with three others at his extravagant residence in January. The U.S. Department of Justice indicted seven people and two companies involved with the site for copyright infringement. A new indictment, filed Friday, adds another eight counts of fraud and violation of copyrights.
BONUS: The Strange and Epic Lifestyle of Megaupload’s Kim Dotcom