Disgraced Terra Founder Do Kwon Wins Extradition Battle in Montenegro Appeals Court
Disgraced Terra founder Do Kwon has achieved a significant victory as the appeals court in Montenegro overturned a lower court ruling that would have extradited him to the United States. This is the second time the appeals court has nullified the extradition approval, citing flawed logic, oversights, and a disregard for existing laws in the previous ruling.
The Background
In December, a lower court in Montenegro initially ruled that Kwon should be extradited to the United States. However, Kwon appealed this decision, and the Appellate Court of Montenegro found serious flaws in the initial ruling, leading to its voidance. Weeks later, another lower court ruled once again in favor of Kwon’s extradition. Today, the appeals court nullified this decision for a second time.
The Flawed Logic
The recent ruling highlighted several oversights and legal errors made by the lower court. Specifically, it addressed the conclusion that the United States had requested Kwon’s extradition from Montenegro before South Korea did. The appeals court found that South Korea had actually made the request several days earlier than the U.S., according to email records. These oversights and legal errors were deemed “significant violations of the provisions of criminal procedure” by the appeals court.
Implications and Future Proceedings
While this ruling is undoubtedly good news for Kwon, it does not guarantee any final outcome in his case. In Montenegro, there is no limit to how many times a case can be retried or appealed. Therefore, it will now return to Montenegro’s lower courts for a third time.
Despite this uncertainty, this development signals that U.S. prosecutors are currently not achieving their desired outcome in a nation that has been pushed further into America’s sphere of influence, particularly since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Kwon’s Legal Challenges
Do Kwon is currently facing a federal criminal trial in New York and a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) lawsuit. He is accused of orchestrating a multi-billion dollar fraud scheme through his offerings of UST and LUNA. The SEC trial is scheduled to begin later this month, regardless of Kwon’s presence.
Kwon was arrested at an airport in Montenegro last March while attempting to travel to Dubai with a forged Costa Rican passport. Although he denied knowing the passport was fake, he was sentenced to four months in a Montenegrin prison for the offense.
🔥 Hot Take: Do Kwon’s Extradition Battle Continues 🔥
The recent ruling by the appeals court in Montenegro marks a significant victory for Do Kwon, as it overturns the lower court’s decision to extradite him to the United States. However, this is not the end of Kwon’s legal challenges, as the case will now return to Montenegro’s lower courts for a third time.
This development highlights the ongoing struggle between Kwon and U.S. prosecutors, who are seeking his extradition to face charges related to his alleged involvement in a multi-billion dollar fraud scheme. While the outcome remains uncertain, it is clear that Kwon is determined to fight these charges and defend himself against the allegations.
As the legal battle continues, it will be interesting to see how this case unfolds and whether Kwon will ultimately be extradited to the United States or face trial in Montenegro. In either scenario, it is clear that this high-profile case has captured the attention of the crypto community and will have significant implications for the future of cryptocurrency regulation and accountability.
By
By
By
By