New Zealand

Police did not lie in Dotcom hearing - IPCA

13:31 pm on 6 August 2015

There is no evidence a detective committed perjury during judicial review proceedings brought by Kim Dotcom, according to the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA).

Kim Dotcom speaks briefly to media outside Auckland District court. Photo: RNZ / Kim Baker Wilson

Detective Inspector Grant Wormald told the High Court in August 2012 he was not aware of any surveillance of Mr Dotcom, either by the police or any other New Zealand Government organisation prior to the raids.

But later that year, it was reported the Government Communications Security Bureau had intercepted the communications of Mr Dotcom and an associate prior to the execution of the warrants.

Paul Davison QC laid a complaint that Mr Wormald knew his evidence was false and misleading.

However, a police investigation has found no evidence of perjury.

IPCA chair Judge Sir David Carruthers said it had found the cross-examination of Mr Wormald was designed to discover whether Mr Dotcom had been the subject of visual surveillance, not whether his communications had been intercepted.

He said Mr Wormald's interpretation of the questions being asked of him was entirely reasonable and his answers were not in any way false or misleading.