The Montenegro Court of Appeals Revokes Do Kwon’s Extradition
The Montenegro Court of Appeals has overturned a decision from the High Court of Montenegro, revoking the extradition of Do Kwon, founder of Terraform Labs, to South Korea or the U.S. This victory comes after Kwon’s initial appeal to revoke the High Court’s ruling was denied.
Discrepancies in the Extradition Process
The Court of Appeals cited discrepancies in the extradition process that led to its decision. It stated that the High Court of Montenegro did not provide clear reasoning for approving Kwon’s extradition and that the order in which requests from the two countries arrived was unclear. Furthermore, facts were not treated in accordance with local laws.
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Allegations of Political Pressure
Kwon’s lawyer, Goran Rodic, previously suggested that political pressure from foreign governments influenced the extradition procedure. This raises concerns about potential external influences on the legal proceedings.
Case Sent Back to High Court for Reassessment
The case has been sent back to the High Court for reassessment following the decision by the Court of Appeals. Kwon’s handover to South Korean or U.S. authorities has been delayed for several months since his arrest and imprisonment in Montenegro.
Kwon’s Arrest and Imprisonment
In March 2023, Do Kwon was detained at a Podgorica airport with falsified travel documents. He was subsequently found guilty of passport forgery and sentenced to four months in a Balkan prison. His sentence was extended while authorities attended to his extradition.
Former CFO Extradited to South Korea
Kwon was arrested alongside former Terraform Labs CFO Han Chang-joon, who has been extradited to South Korea. Han Chang-joon may face criminal charges in his home country in connection to the collapse of Terra.
