- Montenegro Supreme Court rules for US extradition of Terra founder, Do Kwon.
- The court rejects South Korea’s request, prioritizing charges in the US.
- Terra founder’s extradition highlights legal and geopolitical intricacies.
In a significant legal development, Do Kwon, the founder of Terra, is set for extradition to the US following a ruling by the Montenegrin Supreme Court of Podgorica. The decision, reported by local media site Pobjeda, concludes a legal battle involving extradition requests from both South Korea and the US.
The High Court of Podgorica declared that Kwon would face charges in the US related to financial offenses. Notably, the Montenegrin court rejected South Korea’s extradition request, prioritizing the US claim. The Court of Appeal had earlier tasked the High Court with choosing between the two nations’ requests. Finding the conditions for Kwon’s extradition satisfied, the final decision rested with Justice Minister Andrej Milović.
Kwon’s defense attorney, Goran Rodić, advocated for extradition to South Korea based on legal and international agreements. However, Justice Minister Milović characterized the decision as political, underscoring the US’s significance as a key foreign policy partner and the desire to establish a bilateral extradition treaty.
Last year, Kwon and associate Hon Chand Yun were apprehended at Podgorica airport with fake Costa Rican passports and Belgian travel documents. Despite admitting to noticing errors in the Belgian passports, Kwon did not suspect their authenticity. While Kwon awaits extradition to the US, Yun has already been extradited to South Korea.
The Reddit crypto community expressed exasperation at how long this move took. The community has been waiting far too long to see justice served upon Do Kwon. Community responses to the news show high anticipation for what’s next.
The legal proceedings surrounding Kwon underscore the complex international considerations and diplomatic aspects involved in extradition cases, highlighting the intricate intersection of legal and geopolitical interests.
