Do Kwon’s Extradition Returns to Montenegro High Court After Appeal

NAIROBI (CoinChapter.com) — Montenegro’s High Court will revisit Do Kwon’s extradition after an appeal. Since his March 2023 arrest, Kwon faces potential extradition to South Korea or the United States for fraud charges. The latest appeal complicates his legal battle.

According to a recent report from Montenegrin news outlet Vijesti, the country’s court of appeals accepted arguments from Kwon’s lawyers, sending the extradition question back to the High Court “for retrial and decision.” This marks the latest legal maneuver employed by Kwon’s defense to delay his potential transfer to the U.S. or South Korea, where criminal charges await.

Kwon’s Legal Maneuvers Delay Extradition Decision

In March 2023, Montenegrin authorities arrested Kwon for using falsified travel documents. Subsequently, they sentenced him to four months in prison, releasing him afterward as the courts weighed competing extradition requests. Meanwhile, Kwon’s legal team has been active, employing numerous tactics to delay his extradition. However, the appeals court highlighted that if Kwon consents to extradition, a shorter procedure must be applied, emphasizing the need to ensure his consent is voluntary and irrevocable.

Additionally, in April, a U.S. court found Kwon and Terraform Labs liable for fraud in a civil case brought by the SEC. The court has scheduled a hearing on May 29 to hear proposed remedies from both parties. The outcome of this hearing could significantly influence Kwon’s extradition process.

Fraud Charges and International Implications

Kwon was sentenced to four months in prison after his arrest in March 2023 for using falsified travel documents. After his release, courts began to weigh competing extradition requests from the U.S. and South Korea. However, the situation grew more complicated in April when a U.S. court found Terraform Labs and Kwon liable for fraud. This civil case, brought by the SEC, adds yet another layer to Kwon’s legal troubles.

The international legal tangle continues to unfold, with both the U.S. and South Korea keen on bringing Kwon to justice. The latest development in the extradition saga keeps the crypto community and legal observers closely watching. The outcome will set a precedent for handling similar cases involving crypto-related fraud on an international scale.