16 Feb 2012

Dept head defends visa issued to Kim Dotcom

12:35 pm on 16 February 2012

The acting head of the Department of Labor has defended the granting of New Zealand residency to Kim Dotcom, saying his staff followed the law.

Kim Dotcom and three others are facing multiple charges over the file sharing website, Megaupload.

He was granted residency in 2010 under the investor-plus category, which allows people to gain residency if they invest $10 million in government bonds.

Department of Labour officials appeared before a Parliamentary select committee on Thursday morning.

Acting chief executive Nigel Bickle said Mr Dotcom met the criteria and he stands by the decision made by Immigration staff.

Mr Dotcom is in custody, pending an extradition hearing sought by United States authorities.

The four men were arrested on 20 January at the request of the FBI.

Megaupload was indicted in a federal court in Alexandria, Virginia, USA, on 19 January and the site was then shut down.