The extradition of Terraform Labs co-founder, Do Kwon, to South Korea has been blocked as Montenegro’s Supreme State Prosecutor’s Office challenged a court order yesterday (Thursday).
The country’s top lawyer argued that the high court’s decision to extradite Kwon to South Korea instead of the United States was made in “summary proceedings” and exceeded the court’s jurisdiction. Interestingly, hearing an appeal by Kwon’s lawyers, the appellate court affirmed the High Court’s decision.
Lawyers for the Balkan country requested legal protection before the Supreme Court to stop Kwon’s extradition to South Korea. The government lawyers argued that only the Supreme Court can give a decision in this case.
“The court, contrary to law, summarily, instead of regular proceedings and beyond the limits of its powers, ruled on the permission of extradition, which is the exclusive competence of the Minister of Justice,” the translated letter said.
The controversy comes just a day after an appeals court rejected Kwon’s request to block his extradition to South Korea, where he will face “numerous criminal charges.”
America or South Korea?
However, the United States wants to extradite Kwon from Montenegro. US prosecutors have filed eight indictments against him and he could be tried in absentia. Additionally, the US Securities and Exchange Commission has filed civil charges against both Terraform Labs and Kwon.
After the collapse of Terraform Labs’ two cryptocurrencies, TerraUSD and Luna, in 2022, Kwon disappeared from public view. U.S. and South Korean officials blamed him for destroying the crypto market, which reached nearly $37 billion, and then led to the collapse and bankruptcy of several other projects. Kwon was arrested in Montenegro last year while traveling with false documents.
Notably, other top associates at Terraform Labs, including co-founder Hyun-seong Shin and chief financial officer Han Chang-joon, were arrested along with Kwon and extradited to South Korea last month.
The extradition of Terraform Labs co-founder, Do Kwon, to South Korea has been blocked as Montenegro’s Supreme State Prosecutor’s Office challenged a court order yesterday (Thursday).
The country’s top lawyer argued that the high court’s decision to extradite Kwon to South Korea instead of the United States was made in “summary proceedings” and exceeded the court’s jurisdiction. Interestingly, hearing an appeal by Kwon’s lawyers, the appellate court affirmed the High Court’s decision.
Lawyers for the Balkan country requested legal protection before the Supreme Court to stop Kwon’s extradition to South Korea. The government lawyers argued that only the Supreme Court can give a decision in this case.
“The court, contrary to law, summarily, instead of regular proceedings and beyond the limits of its powers, decided on the permission of extradition, which is the exclusive competence of the Minister of Justice,” the letter translated. The prosecutor said.
The controversy comes just a day after an appeals court rejected Kwon’s request to block his extradition to South Korea where he will face “numerous criminal charges”.
America or South Korea?
However, the United States wants to extradite Kwon from Montenegro. US prosecutors have filed eight indictments against him and he could be tried in absentia. Additionally, the US Securities and Exchange Commission has filed civil charges against both Terraform Labs and Kwon.
After the collapse of Terraform Labs’ two cryptocurrencies, TerraUSD and Luna, in 2022, Kwon disappeared from public view. U.S. and South Korean officials blamed him for destroying the crypto market, which reached nearly $37 billion, and then led to the collapse and bankruptcy of several other projects. Kwon was arrested in Montenegro last year while traveling with false documents.
Notably, other top associates at Terraform Labs, including co-founder Hyun-seong Shin and chief financial officer Han Chang-joon, were arrested along with Kwon and extradited to South Korea last month.