Pair who helped run pirating website Megaupload sentenced to jail in New Zealand

Bram ven der Kolk, left, and Mathias Ortmann outside court after pleading guilty to their involvement in running the once wildly popular pirating website Megaupload in Auckland, New Zealand, on Thursday, June 15, 2023 (New Zealand Herald via AP/PA)

Two men who helped run the once wildly popular pirating website Megaupload were each sentenced by a New Zealand court on Thursday to more than two years in prison.

The sentencing of Bram van der Kolk and Mathias Ortmann ended an 11-year legal battle by the men to avoid extradition to the US on more serious charges that included racketeering.