DOTCOM - TUESDAY 5PM
2:09:20 APPROX
BEFORE I CAME TO SPEAK WITH YOU GUYS I WAS HAVING SECOND THOUGHTS BECAUSE I KNOW THE EXTENT OF HIS POWER.
00:46;04 (PHIL)
I FEEL SCARED FOR MY FAMILY ESPECIALLY NOW THAT I'M COMING OUT THEN HAVING THIS INTERVIEW BUT FOR ME THE BEST THING IS FOR NZ TO KNOW WHO MR DOTCOM IS.
They have no money, no political clout and they have a lot to lose.
But these former employees of Kim Dotcom have decided to speak out about how they say they were treated and what Kim Dotcom' really thinks of Kiwis.
2:14:50 APPROX
WELL HE'S ALWAYS CALLED THEM CHEAP ARSE FARMERS
SO THAT'S HIS DESCRIPTION OF NZERS CHEAP ARSE FARMERS?
YEAH
00:26:39
IN YOUR OPINION WHAT DOES HE THINK OF PRIME MINISTER JOHN KEY?
HE HATES HIM, YEAH HE HATES HIM.
So just who are these workers?
(need to do a fancy graphic for this)
Well first up is Phil Orduna, a Manila native and Kim Dotcom's private butler.
Ruth Relleve the butler of Kim's wife Mona she's claiming 92 thousand.
And John Tactaquin, a personal assistant - who says he's owed more than 200,000.
(dotcom mansion stuff - lavish lifestyle)
Out of anyone John knows Kim Dotcom best he was friends with the family for years before being hired.
3:50:00 approx ** NEW GRAB
IF YOU HAD TO TELL NZERS WHAT TYPE OF PERSON MR DOTCOM IS GIVEN YOU KNOW HIM WELL WHAT WOULD YOU SAY?
TO BE HONEST MR DOTCOM IS VERY HELP WITH PEOPLE HE JUST MET AND WHEN KNOWS THEY'RE IN NEED HE ALWAYS IS WILLING TO HELP
SO HE'S A GENEROUS MAN
YES
But his staff also say there is a dark side to the flamboyant millionaire.
3:50:45 APPROX
DOES HE HAVE AN EXPLOSIVE TEMPER?
HE DOES HE DOES WHICH IS VERY SCARY
3:55:38 DOID HE USED TO YELL AT YOU
YES
While THE STAFF say he could be bad tempered they also add for the most part they loved working for the Dotcoms and thought they were a family.
But all that changed after the controversial raids on the Dotcom mansion.
In January 2012 the police arrested Kim Dotcom after US charges relating to alleged copyright infringement. His assets were frozen - the extravagant lifestyle ground to a halt
The staff were initially not paid for two months - many of the Kiwi staff members left and later settled with the Dotcoms.
But many Filipino staff, who were with the Dotcoms for years, were told they would have to take substantial pay cuts.
AND YOU ACCEPTED THAT?
1:26:39 (JR)
YES WE DID BECAUE FOR ME ESPECIALLY DURING THAT TIME I KNEW IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT FOR THEM. MR DOTCOM WENT TO JAIL AND MONA WAS PREGNANT WITH TWINS YOU KNOW AND ALL THE STAFF WERE GOINE, BASICALLY SHE WAS ALONE ALL OF US FILIPINO STAFF STAYED FOR HER, WE FELT BAD FOR HER AND WE REALLY WANTED TO SINCEERELY HELP HER.
Kim Dotcom was released from prison four weeks later. His staff say he was humbled they had remained loyal.
00:2:00 APPROX
HE CALLED A MEETING FOR ALL THE STAFF THAT REMAINED AND THANKED US FOR STAYING AND SAID YOU KNOW GUYS I'M INNOCENT AND WE WILL FIGHT THIS JUST TICK WITH ME THINGS WILL GET BETTER.
(mr president video)
Kim Dotcom came out of prison in fighting form.
UPSOT
He vowed to rebuild his internet empire but in the meantime his staff had to pay the price.
Phil says his weekly pay went down by 275 dollars.
And both John and Ruth say theirs dropped by 175. .
While they were promised substantial bonuses if they stayed for another two years the staff say they were doing a lot more for their money.
00:04:14 HOW MANY HOURS WERE YOU WORING A DAY?
MIMIM OF 16 HOURS
A MINIMUM?
MINIMUM 16 HOURS BUT THERE WAS ONE TIME I WWAS WORKING 2 DAYS SSTRAIGHT. (NO SLEEP?) I DID HAVE SOME SLEEP SOME NAP BUT I ALWAYS HAD TO ATTEND HIM THAT'S THE TIME WHEN HE USUALLY PLAYS (PLAYS VIDEO GAMES) YEAH.
(can drop if too long)
Did you just think AT THE TIME IT WAS JUST EXPECTED AS PART OF YOUR JOB?
YES FOR US FILIPINO'S IT'S LIKE THAT - WE ARE HARD WORKING PEOPLE YOU KNOW EVEN THOUGH THE SITUATION IS REALLY TOUGH WE STILL WORK OUR ARSE OFF THAT'S HOW WE ARE.
The trio claim they were working around 90 hours a week which means they were only earning around 5 dollars an hour well below NZ's minimum wage.
They also say they rarely if ever got a day off.
(RUTH)
2:54:49 DID YOU REALISE THAT AS A FILIPINO WORKER THAT YOU WERE ENTITLED TO THE SAME RIGHTS AS EVERY OTHER NZ WORKING WHILE WORKING IN OUR COUNTRY?
HONTESTLY NO BECAUSE WE THINK THAT THE RULES IN THE MANION IS THE RULES FOR NZ YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN LIKE THIS IS THE KIM DOTCOM RULE THIS IS THE MONA DOTCOM RUYLE AND WE HAVE BE OBEY THAT.
So the staff allege they were now working incredibly long hours at a reduced wage something they accepted until money started to flow back into the household.
Remember Kim Dotcom's assets had been frozen by the US government after the raid on Megaupload's assets.
(kim dotcom singing)
But he launched a new business, called Mega...
UPSOT singing
The staff say inside the mansion the lavish lifestyle was back.
00:14:30 APPROX (phil)
YEAH THEY WERE SPENDING AND THEN A LOT OF PARTIES SO THERE'S LOTS OF PARTIES LOTS OF VISITORS CMONG IN FOR LIKE NO REASON AT ALL.
HOW HARD WAS IT FOR THE STAFF WHO WERE NOT BEING PAID AT THE FULL RATE TO WITNESS?
16:00 APPROX
IT'S REALLY HEARTBREAKING SO THAT'S WHAT WE FELT LIKE THEY DIDN'T CARE ABOUT US ANYMORE ;
PART TWO
There is no doubt Kim Dotcom is known for his incredibly lavish lifestyle.
He is estimated to be worth several hundred million dollars and he likes to spend it on fast cars and parties.
But for his Filipino staff working at the Coatesville mansion seeing the family spend so much money was hard to stomach.
They had been forced to take pay cuts after Dotcom's assets were frozen. They claim they worked a minimum of 16 hour days which meant they only earned around 5 dollars an hour.
1:50:36 DID YOU KNOW AT THE TIME THAT UNDER NZ LAW YOU HAD THE SAME RIGHTS AS NZ WORKERS?
NO WE DID NOT.
The staff's dissatisfaction all came to a head at a meeting at the Dotcom mansion.
Remember the staff say the Dotcoms had promised them they would be reimbursed for the pay-cuts they took when his assets were frozen, but in that meeting the goalposts were changed.
1:44:02 SO HE OWED ME 21, DOLLARS I WAS ONLY PAID 6000
And the reason for that? The rest, 14 thousand, John was told was for the tax department
00:45:11 do you accept ALL NZERS HAVE TO PAY TAX.
YES, I KNOW EVERYBODY HAS TO PAY TAX BUT WE WERE GIVEN THE KNOWLEDGE THEY WOULD SHOULDER THE TAX
THAT IS WHAT YOU ALWAYS THOUGHT.
YES.
1:43:06 WHAT WAS ATMOSPHER3E IN MEETING.
I CAN HONESTLY SAY WE WERE ALL SHOCKED LEKE WE WERE ALL SPEECHLESS THERE WAS NO WARNING.
Ruth, Mona Dotcom's butler resigned and went home to the Philipinnes.
Phil Orduna - Kim Dotcom's butler applied for another job but says when his boss accused him of breaching confidentiality he was told to return to the Philippines.
00:12:21 SO YOU WERE FIRED YES JUST LIKE THAT I WAS FIRED. //
And as for John - the dotcom's long- time friend and personal assistant? Well he says he decided to question Kim Dotcom over the tax issue
1:48:00 APPROX
I TOLD HIM I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED// AND THAT'S WHEN MR DOTCOM BLEW UP ON ME AND SAID HOW COULD I BE SO UNGRATEFUL THAT HOW COULD I BE SO SELFISH YOU IF IT WEREN'T FOR HIM I WOULD BE LIKE A NOBODY I WOULD BE NOTHING.
A few days later John was scheduled to return to the Philippines for a vacation - he says he was told not to come back to NZ by Kim's wife Mona.
1:54:00 APPROX
SO I WAS LIKE I ASKED MONA HOW DID KIM COME TO THAT DECISION WHAT DID I DO DID I SAY SOMETHING WRONG WAS IT BECAUSE OF THE MEETING AND THEN MONA SAID YEAH KIM DIDN'T LIKE THAT YOU TALKED BACK.
1:56:07
SO YOUR UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT YOU WERE FIRED BNECAUSE YOU QUESTIONED MR DOTCOM?
YES
DID YOU HAVE ANY WRITTEN WARNINGS??
NO
03:40:34 S: So JR... what's life been like for you since you got back to the Philippines?
JR: Well it has been really difficult, especially looking for a job...
S: And that all comes down to your employment certificate, can you explain to New Zealanders what that is...
JR: An employment certificate is a document that companies require so you can explain where you previously worked
03:40:58 S: And Mr Dotcom hasn't signed that has he?
JR: Yes, unfortunately he doesn't want to,
Without that employment certificate it's almost impossible to find a job in the Philippines. Kim Dotcom's butler Phil Orduna and his wife are facing having their house repossessed
00:36:00 APPROX (THIS IS LONG GRAB WE NEED TO LOOK IN EDIT IF THE ONE I HAVE CHOSEN IS BEST)
ALL WE HOPE IS TO GET THE SETTLEMENT DONE FOR ME TO MOVE FORWARD AND TO PAY MY DEVBTS BECAUSE IF I LOST THIS HOUSE WHERE WOULD I LIVE, WHER E WOULDNRT MY FAMILY LIVE??
On Monday the Filipino workers filed a legal case against Kim Dotcom.
Their lawyer Paul Dale.
YOU'VBE TRIED TO SETTLE OUT OF COURT?
YES WEVE ENGAGED IN NEGOTIATIONS AS HAVE THEY WE'VE EXPLORED THE ISSUES AND TO BE HONEST I EXPECTED WE'D BE ABLE TO AGREE BUT IT TURNS OUT WE HAVEN'T.
1:1:05 MR DOCTOM HAS MAINTED ASSETS FREEZED YOU'BE SEEN THIS CLAIM HOW DO YOU RESPOND?
1:01;05 TO BE HONEST I DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW HE'S SUPPPORTING A POLITICAL STAFF BUT UNABLE TO PAY,. IF THAT IS THE ASE BEEN ABLE TO PAY THE EMPLOYEES. I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT HIS CIRCUMSTANCES BUT HE DOESN'T SEEM TO GO WITHOUT WHEREAS THESE EMPLOYEES ARE GOING WITHOUT.
Kim Dotcom has now donated 3.5 million dollars to the Internet party. His former workers say if he has that type of money he should have settled with them.
2:590:09 (RUTH)
How CAN HE TAKE CARE OF NZ WHEN HE CAN'T TAKE CARE OF HIS STAFF IT'S AS SIMPLE AS THAT.
SO HE BACKS A POLITICAL PARTY THAT STANDS FOR WORKER'S RIGHTS YET IN HIW OWN HOUSE HE HAD STAFF WHO WERE WORKING MANY MANY HOURS UPAID.
YES.
2:12:00 APPROX
WHY FIGHT FOR FREEDOM FOR THE RIGHTS OF OTHER PEOPLE WHEN YOU HAVE STAFF AROUND YOU SUFFERING, NOT GETTING PAID CORRECTLY, WORKING OVERWORKED, WHY NOT FIGHT FOR US FIRST WE'VE BEEN LOYAL TO HIM THROUGH THICK AND THIN BUT I FEEL LIKE AFTER ALL THAT WE'VBE DONE ITS BEEN THROWN IN OUR FACE.
2:11:41
WHEN I FIRST HEARD HE WAS GHETTINGINTO POLITICS I WAS SHOCKED AND AT SAME TIME LAUGHING TO BE HONEST BECAUSE I REMEMBER HOW HE USED TO CALL KIWIS CHEAP ASS FARMERS AND MONA ALSO YOU KNW KIWIS ARE VERY CHEAP THEY HAVE NO FASHION SENSE SOMETHING LIKE THAT THEY ALWAYS HAD LIKE NASTY THINGS TO SAY ABOUT KIWIS.
YOU DON'T THINK HE CARES ABOUT THE FUTURE OF NZ OR NZERS?
TO BE QUYITE HONESET I DON'T' THINK SO IF HE'S DOING THIS HE WANTS TO GET INTO PARLIAMENT ITS FOR HIMSELF ITS FOR HW OWN GOOD IT WONT' B FE FOR THE BENEFIT OF KIWIS FOR NZERS IT WON'T BE ABOUT THAT.
PART TWO
There is no doubt Kim Dotcom is known for his incredibly lavish lifestyle.
He is estimated to be worth several hundred million dollars and he likes to spend it on fast cars and parties.
But for his Filipino staff working at the Coatesville mansion seeing the family spend so much money was hard to stomach.
They had been forced to take pay cuts after Dotcom's assets were frozen. They claim they worked a minimum of 16 hour days which meant they only earned around 5 dollars an hour.
1:50:36 DID YOU KNOW AT THE TIME THAT UNDER NZ LAW YOU HAD THE SAME RIGHTS AS NZ WORKERS?
NO WE DID NOT.
The staff's dissatisfaction all came to a head at a meeting at the Dotcom mansion.
Remember the staff say the Dotcoms had promised them they would be reimbursed for the pay-cuts they took when his assets were frozen, but in that meeting the goalposts were changed.
1:44:02 SO HE OWED ME 21, DOLLARS I WAS ONLY PAID 6000
And the reason for that? The rest, 14 thousand, John was told was for the tax department
00:45:11 do you accept ALL NZERS HAVE TO PAY TAX.
YES, I KNOW EVERYBODY HAS TO PAY TAX BUT WE WERE GIVEN THE KNOWLEDGE THEY WOULD SHOULDER THE TAX
THAT IS WHAT YOU ALWAYS THOUGHT.
YES.
1:43:06 WHAT WAS ATMOSPHER3E IN MEETING.
I CAN HONESTLY SAY WE WERE ALL SHOCKED LEKE WE WERE ALL SPEECHLESS THERE WAS NO WARNING.
Ruth, Mona Dotcom's butler resigned and went home to the Philipinnes.
Phil Orduna - Kim Dotcom's butler applied for another job but says when his boss accused him of breaching confidentiality he was told to return to the Philippines.
00:12:21 SO YOU WERE FIRED YES JUST LIKE THAT I WAS FIRED. //
And as for John - the dotcom's long- time friend and personal assistant? Well he says he decided to question Kim Dotcom over the tax issue
1:48:00 APPROX
I TOLD HIM I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED// AND THAT'S WHEN MR DOTCOM BLEW UP ON ME AND SAID HOW COULD I BE SO UNGRATEFUL THAT HOW COULD I BE SO SELFISH YOU IF IT WEREN'T FOR HIM I WOULD BE LIKE A NOBODY I WOULD BE NOTHING.
A few days later John was scheduled to return to the Philippines for a vacation - he says he was told not to come back to NZ by Kim's wife Mona.
1:54:00 APPROX
SO I WAS LIKE I ASKED MONA HOW DID KIM COME TO THAT DECISION WHAT DID I DO DID I SAY SOMETHING WRONG WAS IT BECAUSE OF THE MEETING AND THEN MONA SAID YEAH KIM DIDN'T LIKE THAT YOU TALKED BACK.
1:56:07
SO YOUR UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT YOU WERE FIRED BNECAUSE YOU QUESTIONED MR DOTCOM?
YES
DID YOU HAVE ANY WRITTEN WARNINGS??
NO
03:40:34 S: So JR... what's life been like for you since you got back to the Philippines?
JR: Well it has been really difficult, especially looking for a job...
S: And that all comes down to your employment certificate, can you explain to New Zealanders what that is...
JR: An employment certificate is a document that companies require so you can explain where you previously worked
03:40:58 S: And Mr Dotcom hasn't signed that has he?
JR: Yes, unfortunately he doesn't want to,
Without that employment certificate it's almost impossible to find a job in the Philippines. Kim Dotcom's butler Phil Orduna and his wife are facing having their house repossessed
00:36:00 APPROX (THIS IS LONG GRAB WE NEED TO LOOK IN EDIT IF THE ONE I HAVE CHOSEN IS BEST)
ALL WE HOPE IS TO GET THE SETTLEMENT DONE FOR ME TO MOVE FORWARD AND TO PAY MY DEVBTS BECAUSE IF I LOST THIS HOUSE WHERE WOULD I LIVE, WHER E WOULDNRT MY FAMILY LIVE??
On Monday the Filipino workers filed a legal case against Kim Dotcom.
Their lawyer Paul Dale.
YOU'VBE TRIED TO SETTLE OUT OF COURT?
YES WEVE ENGAGED IN NEGOTIATIONS AS HAVE THEY WE'VE EXPLORED THE ISSUES AND TO BE HONEST I EXPECTED WE'D BE ABLE TO AGREE BUT IT TURNS OUT WE HAVEN'T.
1:1:05 MR DOCTOM HAS MAINTED ASSETS FREEZED YOU'BE SEEN THIS CLAIM HOW DO YOU RESPOND?
1:01;05 TO BE HONEST I DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW HE'S SUPPPORTING A POLITICAL STAFF BUT UNABLE TO PAY,. IF THAT IS THE ASE BEEN ABLE TO PAY THE EMPLOYEES. I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT HIS CIRCUMSTANCES BUT HE DOESN'T SEEM TO GO WITHOUT WHEREAS THESE EMPLOYEES ARE GOING WITHOUT.
Kim Dotcom has now donated 3.5 million dollars to the Internet party. His former workers say if he has that type of money he should have settled with them.
2:590:09 (RUTH)
How CAN HE TAKE CARE OF NZ WHEN HE CAN'T TAKE CARE OF HIS STAFF IT'S AS SIMPLE AS THAT.
SO HE BACKS A POLITICAL PARTY THAT STANDS FOR WORKER'S RIGHTS YET IN HIW OWN HOUSE HE HAD STAFF WHO WERE WORKING MANY MANY HOURS UPAID.
YES.
2:12:00 APPROX
WHY FIGHT FOR FREEDOM FOR THE RIGHTS OF OTHER PEOPLE WHEN YOU HAVE STAFF AROUND YOU SUFFERING, NOT GETTING PAID CORRECTLY, WORKING OVERWORKED, WHY NOT FIGHT FOR US FIRST WE'VE BEEN LOYAL TO HIM THROUGH THICK AND THIN BUT I FEEL LIKE AFTER ALL THAT WE'VBE DONE ITS BEEN THROWN IN OUR FACE.
2:11:41
WHEN I FIRST HEARD HE WAS GHETTINGINTO POLITICS I WAS SHOCKED AND AT SAME TIME LAUGHING TO BE HONEST BECAUSE I REMEMBER HOW HE USED TO CALL KIWIS CHEAP ASS FARMERS AND MONA ALSO YOU KNW KIWIS ARE VERY CHEAP THEY HAVE NO FASHION SENSE SOMETHING LIKE THAT THEY ALWAYS HAD LIKE NASTY THINGS TO SAY ABOUT KIWIS.
YOU DON'T THINK HE CARES ABOUT THE FUTURE OF NZ OR NZERS?
TO BE QUYITE HONESET I DON'T' THINK SO IF HE'S DOING THIS HE WANTS TO GET INTO PARLIAMENT ITS FOR HIMSELF ITS FOR HW OWN GOOD IT WONT' B FE FOR THE BENEFIT OF KIWIS FOR NZERS IT WON'T BE ABOUT THAT.
PART TWO
There is no doubt Kim Dotcom is known for his incredibly lavish lifestyle.
He is estimated to be worth several hundred million dollars and he likes to spend it on fast cars and parties.
But for his Filipino staff working at the Coatesville mansion seeing the family spend so much money was hard to stomach.
They had been forced to take pay cuts after Dotcom's assets were frozen. They claim they worked a minimum of 16 hour days which meant they only earned around 5 dollars an hour.
1:50:36 DID YOU KNOW AT THE TIME THAT UNDER NZ LAW YOU HAD THE SAME RIGHTS AS NZ WORKERS?
NO WE DID NOT.
The staff's dissatisfaction all came to a head at a meeting at the Dotcom mansion.
Remember the staff say the Dotcoms had promised them they would be reimbursed for the pay-cuts they took when his assets were frozen, but in that meeting the goalposts were changed.
1:44:02 SO HE OWED ME 21, DOLLARS I WAS ONLY PAID 6000
And the reason for that? The rest, 14 thousand, John was told was for the tax department
00:45:11 do you accept ALL NZERS HAVE TO PAY TAX.
YES, I KNOW EVERYBODY HAS TO PAY TAX BUT WE WERE GIVEN THE KNOWLEDGE THEY WOULD SHOULDER THE TAX
THAT IS WHAT YOU ALWAYS THOUGHT.
YES.
1:43:06 WHAT WAS ATMOSPHER3E IN MEETING.
I CAN HONESTLY SAY WE WERE ALL SHOCKED LEKE WE WERE ALL SPEECHLESS THERE WAS NO WARNING.
Ruth, Mona Dotcom's butler resigned and went home to the Philipinnes.
Phil Orduna - Kim Dotcom's butler applied for another job but says when his boss accused him of breaching confidentiality he was told to return to the Philippines.
00:12:21 SO YOU WERE FIRED YES JUST LIKE THAT I WAS FIRED. //
And as for John - the dotcom's long- time friend and personal assistant? Well he says he decided to question Kim Dotcom over the tax issue
1:48:00 APPROX
I TOLD HIM I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED// AND THAT'S WHEN MR DOTCOM BLEW UP ON ME AND SAID HOW COULD I BE SO UNGRATEFUL THAT HOW COULD I BE SO SELFISH YOU IF IT WEREN'T FOR HIM I WOULD BE LIKE A NOBODY I WOULD BE NOTHING.
A few days later John was scheduled to return to the Philippines for a vacation - he says he was told not to come back to NZ by Kim's wife Mona.
1:54:00 APPROX
SO I WAS LIKE I ASKED MONA HOW DID KIM COME TO THAT DECISION WHAT DID I DO DID I SAY SOMETHING WRONG WAS IT BECAUSE OF THE MEETING AND THEN MONA SAID YEAH KIM DIDN'T LIKE THAT YOU TALKED BACK.
1:56:07
SO YOUR UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT YOU WERE FIRED BNECAUSE YOU QUESTIONED MR DOTCOM?
YES
DID YOU HAVE ANY WRITTEN WARNINGS??
NO
03:40:34 S: So JR... what's life been like for you since you got back to the Philippines?
JR: Well it has been really difficult, especially looking for a job...
S: And that all comes down to your employment certificate, can you explain to New Zealanders what that is...
JR: An employment certificate is a document that companies require so you can explain where you previously worked
03:40:58 S: And Mr Dotcom hasn't signed that has he?
JR: Yes, unfortunately he doesn't want to,
Without that employment certificate it's almost impossible to find a job in the Philippines. Kim Dotcom's butler Phil Orduna and his wife are facing having their house repossessed
00:36:00 APPROX (THIS IS LONG GRAB WE NEED TO LOOK IN EDIT IF THE ONE I HAVE CHOSEN IS BEST)
ALL WE HOPE IS TO GET THE SETTLEMENT DONE FOR ME TO MOVE FORWARD AND TO PAY MY DEVBTS BECAUSE IF I LOST THIS HOUSE WHERE WOULD I LIVE, WHER E WOULDNRT MY FAMILY LIVE??
On Monday the Filipino workers filed a legal case against Kim Dotcom.
Their lawyer Paul Dale.
YOU'VBE TRIED TO SETTLE OUT OF COURT?
YES WEVE ENGAGED IN NEGOTIATIONS AS HAVE THEY WE'VE EXPLORED THE ISSUES AND TO BE HONEST I EXPECTED WE'D BE ABLE TO AGREE BUT IT TURNS OUT WE HAVEN'T.
1:1:05 MR DOCTOM HAS MAINTED ASSETS FREEZED YOU'BE SEEN THIS CLAIM HOW DO YOU RESPOND?
1:01;05 TO BE HONEST I DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW HE'S SUPPPORTING A POLITICAL STAFF BUT UNABLE TO PAY,. IF THAT IS THE ASE BEEN ABLE TO PAY THE EMPLOYEES. I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT HIS CIRCUMSTANCES BUT HE DOESN'T SEEM TO GO WITHOUT WHEREAS THESE EMPLOYEES ARE GOING WITHOUT.
Kim Dotcom has now donated 3.5 million dollars to the Internet party. His former workers say if he has that type of money he should have settled with them.
2:590:09 (RUTH)
How CAN HE TAKE CARE OF NZ WHEN HE CAN'T TAKE CARE OF HIS STAFF IT'S AS SIMPLE AS THAT.
SO HE BACKS A POLITICAL PARTY THAT STANDS FOR WORKER'S RIGHTS YET IN HIW OWN HOUSE HE HAD STAFF WHO WERE WORKING MANY MANY HOURS UPAID.
YES.
2:12:00 APPROX
WHY FIGHT FOR FREEDOM FOR THE RIGHTS OF OTHER PEOPLE WHEN YOU HAVE STAFF AROUND YOU SUFFERING, NOT GETTING PAID CORRECTLY, WORKING OVERWORKED, WHY NOT FIGHT FOR US FIRST WE'VE BEEN LOYAL TO HIM THROUGH THICK AND THIN BUT I FEEL LIKE AFTER ALL THAT WE'VBE DONE ITS BEEN THROWN IN OUR FACE.
2:11:41
WHEN I FIRST HEARD HE WAS GHETTINGINTO POLITICS I WAS SHOCKED AND AT SAME TIME LAUGHING TO BE HONEST BECAUSE I REMEMBER HOW HE USED TO CALL KIWIS CHEAP ASS FARMERS AND MONA ALSO YOU KNW KIWIS ARE VERY CHEAP THEY HAVE NO FASHION SENSE SOMETHING LIKE THAT THEY ALWAYS HAD LIKE NASTY THINGS TO SAY ABOUT KIWIS.
YOU DON'T THINK HE CARES ABOUT THE FUTURE OF NZ OR NZERS?
TO BE QUYITE HONESET I DON'T' THINK SO IF HE'S DOING THIS HE WANTS TO GET INTO PARLIAMENT ITS FOR HIMSELF ITS FOR HW OWN GOOD IT WONT' B FE FOR THE BENEFIT OF KIWIS FOR NZERS IT WON'T BE ABOUT THAT.
PART TWO
There is no doubt Kim Dotcom is known for his incredibly lavish lifestyle.
He is estimated to be worth several hundred million dollars and he likes to spend it on fast cars and parties.
But for his Filipino staff working at the Coatesville mansion seeing the family spend so much money was hard to stomach.
They had been forced to take pay cuts after Dotcom's assets were frozen. They claim they worked a minimum of 16 hour days which meant they only earned around 5 dollars an hour.
1:50:36 DID YOU KNOW AT THE TIME THAT UNDER NZ LAW YOU HAD THE SAME RIGHTS AS NZ WORKERS?
NO WE DID NOT.
The staff's dissatisfaction all came to a head at a meeting at the Dotcom mansion.
Remember the staff say the Dotcoms had promised them they would be reimbursed for the pay-cuts they took when his assets were frozen, but in that meeting the goalposts were changed.
1:44:02 SO HE OWED ME 21, DOLLARS I WAS ONLY PAID 6000
And the reason for that? The rest, 14 thousand, John was told was for the tax department
00:45:11 do you accept ALL NZERS HAVE TO PAY TAX.
YES, I KNOW EVERYBODY HAS TO PAY TAX BUT WE WERE GIVEN THE KNOWLEDGE THEY WOULD SHOULDER THE TAX
THAT IS WHAT YOU ALWAYS THOUGHT.
YES.
1:43:06 WHAT WAS ATMOSPHER3E IN MEETING.
I CAN HONESTLY SAY WE WERE ALL SHOCKED LEKE WE WERE ALL SPEECHLESS THERE WAS NO WARNING.
Ruth, Mona Dotcom's butler resigned and went home to the Philipinnes.
Phil Orduna - Kim Dotcom's butler applied for another job but says when his boss accused him of breaching confidentiality he was told to return to the Philippines.
00:12:21 SO YOU WERE FIRED YES JUST LIKE THAT I WAS FIRED. //
And as for John - the dotcom's long- time friend and personal assistant? Well he says he decided to question Kim Dotcom over the tax issue
1:48:00 APPROX
I TOLD HIM I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED// AND THAT'S WHEN MR DOTCOM BLEW UP ON ME AND SAID HOW COULD I BE SO UNGRATEFUL THAT HOW COULD I BE SO SELFISH YOU IF IT WEREN'T FOR HIM I WOULD BE LIKE A NOBODY I WOULD BE NOTHING.
A few days later John was scheduled to return to the Philippines for a vacation - he says he was told not to come back to NZ by Kim's wife Mona.
1:54:00 APPROX
SO I WAS LIKE I ASKED MONA HOW DID KIM COME TO THAT DECISION WHAT DID I DO DID I SAY SOMETHING WRONG WAS IT BECAUSE OF THE MEETING AND THEN MONA SAID YEAH KIM DIDN'T LIKE THAT YOU TALKED BACK.
1:56:07
SO YOUR UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT YOU WERE FIRED BNECAUSE YOU QUESTIONED MR DOTCOM?
YES
DID YOU HAVE ANY WRITTEN WARNINGS??
NO
03:40:34 S: So JR... what's life been like for you since you got back to the Philippines?
JR: Well it has been really difficult, especially looking for a job...
S: And that all comes down to your employment certificate, can you explain to New Zealanders what that is...
JR: An employment certificate is a document that companies require so you can explain where you previously worked
03:40:58 S: And Mr Dotcom hasn't signed that has he?
JR: Yes, unfortunately he doesn't want to,
Without that employment certificate it's almost impossible to find a job in the Philippines. Kim Dotcom's butler Phil Orduna and his wife are facing having their house repossessed
00:36:00 APPROX (THIS IS LONG GRAB WE NEED TO LOOK IN EDIT IF THE ONE I HAVE CHOSEN IS BEST)
ALL WE HOPE IS TO GET THE SETTLEMENT DONE FOR ME TO MOVE FORWARD AND TO PAY MY DEVBTS BECAUSE IF I LOST THIS HOUSE WHERE WOULD I LIVE, WHER E WOULDNRT MY FAMILY LIVE??
On Monday the Filipino workers filed a legal case against Kim Dotcom.
Their lawyer Paul Dale.
YOU'VBE TRIED TO SETTLE OUT OF COURT?
YES WEVE ENGAGED IN NEGOTIATIONS AS HAVE THEY WE'VE EXPLORED THE ISSUES AND TO BE HONEST I EXPECTED WE'D BE ABLE TO AGREE BUT IT TURNS OUT WE HAVEN'T.
1:1:05 MR DOCTOM HAS MAINTED ASSETS FREEZED YOU'BE SEEN THIS CLAIM HOW DO YOU RESPOND?
1:01;05 TO BE HONEST I DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW HE'S SUPPPORTING A POLITICAL STAFF BUT UNABLE TO PAY,. IF THAT IS THE ASE BEEN ABLE TO PAY THE EMPLOYEES. I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT HIS CIRCUMSTANCES BUT HE DOESN'T SEEM TO GO WITHOUT WHEREAS THESE EMPLOYEES ARE GOING WITHOUT.
Kim Dotcom has now donated 3.5 million dollars to the Internet party. His former workers say if he has that type of money he should have settled with them.
2:590:09 (RUTH)
How CAN HE TAKE CARE OF NZ WHEN HE CAN'T TAKE CARE OF HIS STAFF IT'S AS SIMPLE AS THAT.
SO HE BACKS A POLITICAL PARTY THAT STANDS FOR WORKER'S RIGHTS YET IN HIW OWN HOUSE HE HAD STAFF WHO WERE WORKING MANY MANY HOURS UPAID.
YES.
2:12:00 APPROX
WHY FIGHT FOR FREEDOM FOR THE RIGHTS OF OTHER PEOPLE WHEN YOU HAVE STAFF AROUND YOU SUFFERING, NOT GETTING PAID CORRECTLY, WORKING OVERWORKED, WHY NOT FIGHT FOR US FIRST WE'VE BEEN LOYAL TO HIM THROUGH THICK AND THIN BUT I FEEL LIKE AFTER ALL THAT WE'VBE DONE ITS BEEN THROWN IN OUR FACE.
2:11:41
WHEN I FIRST HEARD HE WAS GHETTINGINTO POLITICS I WAS SHOCKED AND AT SAME TIME LAUGHING TO BE HONEST BECAUSE I REMEMBER HOW HE USED TO CALL KIWIS CHEAP ASS FARMERS AND MONA ALSO YOU KNW KIWIS ARE VERY CHEAP THEY HAVE NO FASHION SENSE SOMETHING LIKE THAT THEY ALWAYS HAD LIKE NASTY THINGS TO SAY ABOUT KIWIS.
YOU DON'T THINK HE CARES ABOUT THE FUTURE OF NZ OR NZERS?
TO BE QUYITE HONESET I DON'T' THINK SO IF HE'S DOING THIS HE WANTS TO GET INTO PARLIAMENT ITS FOR HIMSELF ITS FOR HW OWN GOOD IT WONT' B FE FOR THE BENEFIT OF KIWIS FOR NZERS IT WON'T BE ABOUT THAT.
Dot Com Interview Part 3
01.00 Would you describe yourself as a good employer?
Yes
Are you kind to your staff?
Yes
And in fact many of your staff has spoken about your generosity.
Yes
However everyone we have spoken to have talked about your temper, do you think you have an anger issue?
No
00.20 Do you ever yell at your staff?
Sometimes but not in any aggressive fashion.
But a lot of them say they felt intimidated by you.
People tell me that because I'm very direct I think it's probably a German trait.
00.41 So you don't think your behaviour was bullying?
No
Do you think it's acceptable to yell at your staff?
Well it's acceptable and I only do it when there are serious mistakes. I am like a family father. So if you child does something stupid, and I'm just using this as an explanation, you do something about it. Sometimes you do get loud because you don't want that mistake to happen again. I'm looking after them, I care for them they are family to me I love them.
01.15 But a lot of your staff say you were lovely one moment and the next minute in a full blown rage.
That is completely wrong, that is unacceptable such an allegation it is not true.
01.30 Do you accept your Filipino staff worked many many hours here at the mansion.
Yes I accept that. Sometimes they had to do a task for 2 or 3 hours then they were off for 2 or 3 hours so it's never like they are working 16 or 18 hours in one go that's definitely not the case.
01.50 And they say that was the case before the raids but after the raids happened and you lost many staff that they weren't just doing their initial jobs they were doing many other jobs and they were 16 hours to up to 22 hours in a day.
Absolutely not that is not correct there isn't even that kind of work here that someone would have to work 16 or 22 hours that is insane. And let me just explain this to you after the raid happened we had absolutely nothing and all the assets were frozen I simply hadn't the capability to pay them before and I gave everyone an option I said you can either stay here and work here but I need to cut your pay in half and defer the rest to I'm unable to pay you or you can leave.
02.43 They all say they were happy to accept a pay cut they understood you position but they said there was a staff meeting called to discuss them being repaid. You recall that staff meeting?
Yes.
01.03 .10 And what did you tell them in that staff meeting?
We talked about the tax for example. In New Zealand the employer pays the tax so I just had to explain this new reality we have to pay P.A.Y.E and that is why there is this adjustment . It went up and then they were disappointed the tax was deducted.
03.25 Wasn't it their feeling that you were shouldering the tax burden, that was their understanding?
That was a disagreement the difference was that in HK they didn't have to pay tax or it wasn't the obligation of the employer in NZ it is a different legal situation and I explained that to them and of course they were unhappy when they learned that all of a sudden we have to pay 25% tax and they expected me to pay that tax and I think anyone can agree that that is unreasonable
03.55 in actual fact you took a lot more off them than 20% it was well and truly over 30
Yes because they are living with us, so we are paying for the food, they had lunch, breakfast, dinner
04.10 so you thought you'd put an extra tax in for that ?
Well it's called lodging , it's a very common thing.
04.15 That wasn't in their contract Mr Dotcom
No it was an agreement that we made, and we made a new agreement to which they agreed
04.23 but to get specific John in particular talks about how he questioned you after that meeting on the tax issue and he was then fired for questioning you
Ok That is completely wrong, that is outrageous for him to say that . He resigned, it had nothing to do with the discussion about the tax
04.47 He claims that your former wife or wife Mona texted him and told him not to come back from the Phillipines, that you were angry with him for questioning him and that was it
That is wrong and I think you should talk with Mona about that ask her for an interview, like I said both JR. john and Ruth were mona's staff, I didn't even have any interaction with them at all..
01.-05 15 then lets talk about your own staff in particular Fil your personal butler
Yeah
He claims
Who I miss very much by the way he has been really helpful and he has been a great guy
01.05.26 he claims he was also told not to come back after you accused him of breaching confidentiality
01.05.33 yes that is correct he gas breached his confidentiality agreement with me, he went to one of my investors in my mega business and revealed to him private information about my family
05.45 he maintains he did not do that he was just seeking another job
05.48 yeah well that's dishonest
05.51 did you give anyone written warnings ?
Ahh I don't think so .. no
05.57 yet under New Zealand law that is what is required of employers
06.00 yeah I understand that and I think I could have done things better I just didn't understand what the requirements were, you know I always lived abroad I lived in Hong Kong, in HK you can basically , you know they have a very simple employment law. I agree that I could have done these things better.
06.18 it seems that there are a lot of disagreements in this circumstance they say they were fired you say they resigned, you say they got this amount you say that they didn't, can this be settled Mr Dotcom?
Yes and I've made a generous settlement offer , they have asked for things that were just not possible to do for example they wanted me to give them a certificate of great employment you know, that they can use me as a reference but I don't accept that because they have made outrageous demands through their lawyers for payment that I think is completely unjustified so I wouldn't give them the reference..
07.02 It's not a reference, they were asking you to sign their employment certificate which you know Mr dotcom is incredibly important in the Philippines, without it they can't get a job.
07.13 And I'm sorry to say that but you have your facts wrong. OK they asked for a reference, they asked that they can go to future employers and tell them that they work for me ..
Surely you can at least write that
07.25 excuse me?
07.27 Surely you can at least write that you don't have to say
07.28 well would you write that about somebody who has
Well you can say the truth they worked for you
Let me ask you a question, would you write that about somebody who has breached their confidentiality contract with you who has made outrageous demands for money would you give someone like that a reference?
07.47 it doesn't have to be a good reference Mr Dotcom .. it just have to be a reference
07.50 you would give someone who does that to you?
I would say that someone worked for me and that they could call me and ask me what
07.58 I have different principles ok.. let me ask you something... you send a team to the Philippines to talk to them right?
I went to the Philippines
When did you do that?
08.06 I went on Friday
You went on Friday, you know when they filed?
My understanding was that it Friday.
08.12 yeah isn't that incredible timing, you are there on the same day they file this.?? Wow
08.20 I'm fast Mr Dotcom
Yeah
08.25 can we just talk about the way you see New Zealanders, one of the things that your staff said is that you refer to NZ'ers as cheap arse farmers
That's absolutely wrong
You've never called us that ?
Absolutely not
08.39 So what do you think of New Zealanders then?
I love New Zealanders, are you kidding ?? I'm never saying things like that OK, that is outrageous, again it is something that is designed to hurt me and I don't even know where this hatred is coming from, you know I have done nothing to deserve this I have never said that I can categorically tell you that that is wrong.
09.00 Again, to all your staff that we have talked to that have said that you do bully that you do intimidate that you do yell and scream at them, what do you say Mr Dotcom?
09.13 absolutely wrong, I'm listening to all this stuff that you are throwing at me here and this is how I react to things...
Yes but you are also surrounded by television cameras..
Yeah but this is who I am
I doubt that you would lose your temper
This is who I am .. see this is my character right I am against confrontation I love harmony, I avoid conflict ok, I'm not the kind of guy who is Bi Polar or who throws tantrums or anything like that you know, I am a very friendly guy to my staff you know I am joking around with them , you know we are all on a first name basis , they call me Sir but I call them by their first names, we are all always friendly .. we used to all joke around, there was always a lot of laughter in the house, unfortunately all of that was drained with the raid .. things changed.
10.05 they did talk about how you changed
Yeah it make me very bitter, the raid itself was a very traumatic event for this family, very traumatic, I mean it took a long time to get over that and it changed me, it made me bitter, it made me angry ok and some of that might have reflected to the staff, they might have sensed that and I understand that ok