All of his money, cars and other assets were seized earlier this year

Mar 23, 2012 11:03 GMT  ·  By

The really interesting things in the MegaUpload case won't start until August, but things aren’t quiet at the moment either. It has just been revealed that Kim Dotcom and other MegaUpload employees will be able to get some of their cash, which has all been seized, for living expenses.

Dotcom will get some $60,000 a month, that's New Zealand dollars, the equivalent of $48,600 or 36,800 Euro, which is probably a bit more than what most people would consider to be living expenses, but then again most people aren't Kim Dotcom.

The money comes from his own bank accounts, NZ$40,000, $32,400 or 24,500 Euro, of them, while the rest will come from interest on Government Bonds worth NZ$10 million, $8.1 million, 6.13 m. Euro, that Dotcom owns.

Dotcom has also been given access to one of his cars, a Mercedes SUV. Last month, his wife had gotten access to a Toyota van as well as some money for living expenses and other costs.

The move probably isn't linked to the error authorities made when asking for a court order to seize Dotcom's assets.

Authorities had seized all of his assets and his bank accounts while also throwing him in jail. Prosecutors argued that there was a flight risk as he surely must have had more money stashed away in bank accounts they did not know about.

He was released on bail four weeks later and Dotcom has since said that he has no intention of running away, he will fight this case with all he's got. He also said that he didn't even have money to pay his lawyers at the moment.

MegaUpload was raided and shut down early this year after a two-year operation. Authorities have accused the people involved of criminal copyright infringement, racketeering and other charges.

An extradition hearing will be held in August as US authorities, which started the investigation and prompted the arrests, want Dotcom and his associates on US ground to prosecute them.