Kim Dotcom, the founder of the file-sharing website Megaupload has been denied bail in a New Zealand court, The Guardian reports.
The court in Auckland agreed with prosecutors that there was a high risk that Dotcom would attempt to flee before an extradition hearing.
Dotcom's lawyer disagreed, saying that suggestions he would leave the country, where he lives with his heavily pregnant wife, were "flights of fancy".
He said in court "I will not run away. I want to fight these allegations on a level playing field. I have three little children. My wife is pregnant with twins. I just want to be with them."
The Age reported that Dotcom complained that inmates had made unwanted advances to him in jail.
Fairfax New Zealand said the day-long district court trial also heard that Dotcom's health needs could not be met in prison.
US authorities are seeking his extradition Dotcom's extradition to face charges in the US. The FBI investigation unearthed alleged breaches of copyright laws to the value of more than US$500m.
A New Zealand internet lawyer, Rick Shera, told the Huffington Post that Dotcom will not be charged under New Zealand law.
"If the activities which are alleged were within NZ jurisdiction, then yes, they could be prosecuted here (our copyright law is similar to yours). The Police have advised that no MZ charges are to be laid - it is all related to extradition proceedings (a remarkable coincidence given the guy about to be extradited for copyright infringement from UK)."