Supreme Court Postpones Do Kwon’s Extradition to South Korea

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What’s Behind the Delay in Do Kwon's Extradition to South Korea?
  • Montenegro’s Supreme Court has delayed Do Kwon’s extradition to South Korea amid a legal review request by the Supreme State Prosecutor’s Office.
  • The VDT’s request for legal protection challenges earlier rulings, impacting the execution of Do Kwon’s extradition decision.
  • Do Kwon, facing fraud charges, remains in Montenegro with ongoing legal and political controversies influencing his extradition case.

The Supreme Court of Montenegro has postponed the extradition of Do Kwon, the co-founder of Terraform Labs, to South Korea. The decision comes after the Supreme State Prosecutor’s Office (VDT) requested a delay on August 2nd, citing concerns about the legality of the High Court in Podgorica’s and the Court of Appeal’s previous rulings.

Judge Seka Piletic, leading the Supreme Court panel, halted the extradition process. This delay remains in effect until the Supreme Court decides on the VDT’s request for legal protection. The VDT’s request aims to review the legality of the decisions made by both the High Court and the Court of Appeal.

This move follows the Court of Appeal’s recent decision to uphold the High Court’s ruling favoring Kwon’s extradition to South Korea. The postponement prevents the Police Directorate and the Ministry of Justice from executing the extradition order immediately.

The VDT argues that the previous decisions did not fully comply with the Law on International Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters. The VDT’s request calls for a review of the legality surrounding the extradition process, including the potential extradition of Kwon to the United States.

Kwon’s defense attorney, Goran Radic, has criticized the ongoing legal process. Radic believes that revising a final court decision in favor of the defendant is inappropriate. He argues that such revisions could hinder judicial efficiency and legal consistency.

Moreover, Radic points out numerous legal inconsistencies in Kwon’s extradition case. He highlights how the High Court’s earlier decision to extradite Kwon to the U.S. was overturned. This decision was based on flawed information provided by the Justice Minister, which led to the current situation.

Kwon, facing allegations of $40 billion in cryptocurrency fraud from both South Korea and the U.S., remains in Montenegro. He was arrested in March 2023 for being connected to the TerraUSD collapse with his business partner at Podgorica airport attempting to travel using forged passports.

The case has seen multiple rulings on Kwon’s extradition, making it highly unusual. It has involved numerous court decisions and political controversy in Montenegro, even being linked to disputes between prominent political figures, including former and current Prime Ministers.

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