Do Kwon to contest US extradition in Montenegro
Do Kwon’s extradition to the U.S. was decided on Feb. 21, but his attorneys are not surrendering arguments against the decision by a Montenegro High court.
Goran Rodic, defense lawyer for Terraform founder Do Kwon, said a High Court of Montenegro ruling to extradite his client to the U.S. is illegal. Rodic believes the decision will not withstand scrutiny in an appellate court, citing the matter’s previous annulments by Appeal Court Judges.
A High Court in Montenegro’s capital, Podgorica, ruled to approve Do Kwon’s extradition on two separate occasions. Kwon and his defense team appealed both decisions and secured victories, overturning his extradition twice.
The case was then returned to the High Court, which later reaffirmed its decision and authorized Kwon’s removal to the United States. Rodic argued that the rulings were politically influenced, stressing that legal precedent did not support this decision.
Do Kwon debacle
Do Kwon has been incarcerated in the Balkan nation since March last year. Podgorica law enforcement arrested Kwon and Terraform Labs’ former chief financial officer, Han Chang-Joon, as they attempted to leave the capital on a private flight to Dubai.
The pair were accosted with suspicious travel documents and later convicted for forgery, months after Interpol issued a red alert for the ex-crypto tycoon.
Authorities extended Kwon’s sentence four months to settle his extradition, following requests from the U.S. and his native South Korea. Prosecutors in both jurisdictions intend to try Kwon for fraud and other criminal violations over Terra’s collapse in May 2022.
A trial on the issue has started in South Korea, with one former developer testifying against Kwon’s leadership at the blockchain firm. In the U.S., Terraform and the SEC agreed to postpone proceedings till Apr. 15 to allow Kwon to be present for the hearing.
Kwon continues challenging his extradition, but his colleague Chang-Joon was moved to South Korea in early February as crypto.news reported.
