Key 'disappointed' over Dotcom bugging

Prime Minister John Key has cautioned against speculating on why the Government's foreign intelligence agency unlawfully bugged suspects in the Kim Dotcom case.

Mr Key yesterday announced he had asked for an investigation into the unlawful interception of communications by the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB), saying it had acquired communications without statutory authority.

The law allows the GCSB to intercept the communications of foreigners without a warrant in some circumstances, but it cannot intercept the communications of New Zealand citizens or residents even when it has a warrant.

Both internet tycoon Kim Dotcom and co-accused Bram van der Kolk, the targets of the unlawful interceptions, are New Zealand residents.

Opposition parties have accused the agency of breaching New Zealand laws to assist the United States' case against Dotcom.

Green Party co-leader Russel Norman said New Zealanders should be concerned about the revelation, and New Zealand First leader Winston Peters said the breach showed New Zealand was "in the pocket of the US intelligence agencies".

But Mr Key today said he would be "very cautious" about drawing motivations for the GCSB's actions.

"What I would say is that I'm very disappointed in the agency. I've made that quite clear," he told TV3's Firstline.

Asked if the move was to appease the United States, Mr Key said: "Personally I'd be very cautious about drawing motivations."

He would not comment on whether he thought Dotcom was a threat to New Zealand, saying the matter was before the courts.

Mr Key said the investigation would lead to a full report on what went wrong and where responsibility lay.

"And then hopefully, come up with some recommendations to ensure that this can't happen again."

Mr Key did not sign an interception warrant and said it was not normal for him to do so.

"The reason for that is because the law quite clearly prescribes it's unlawful for GCSB to intercept communications for either New Zealand citizens or New Zealand residents, and so on that basis no, I haven't signed any warrants in relation to this case."

Mr Key yesterday said he was not briefed on the operation.

He said he believed it was a mistake rather than a deliberate flouting of the law, but the inquiry would investigate how it happened. The first he had heard of it was last Monday.

The matter will be investigated by Inspector-General Paul Neazor - an independent statutory officer with the power to inquire into any matter related to a government intelligence agency's compliance with the law.

Labour leader David Shearer called on Mr Key to explain how the GCSB illegally spied on people in the case.

"This is a shocking breach of New Zealand's very strict laws restricting the ability of our spy agencies to snoop on people."

Mr Peters wanted Mr Key to assure New Zealanders they were not being spied on, saying he had failed to provide adequate oversight of the GCSB and the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service - agencies under his ministerial responsibility.

"What confidence can the New Zealand public hold that our top security intelligence agency isn't breaking laws and unlawfully spying on them," he asked.

"Mr Key's shoddy handling of the issue seems to indicate that we are in the pocket of the US intelligence agencies and that he allowed them to trample over New Zealand law."

Mr Norman said Government agencies should not break New Zealand laws to assist another country.

"The Kim Dotcom case doesn't appear to constitute a threat to New Zealand's national security, so it is hard to understand why the GCSB considered it should be involved at all.

"John Key as the minister responsible for the GCSB, needs to make certain that those responsible for breaching New Zealand law are held to account."

 

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