The Supreme Court of Montenegro postponed extraditing the dubious Terraform Labs founder, Do Kwon, to South Korea. This postponement followed a request from the Supreme State Prosecutor’s Office (VDT) for legal protection on August 2, 2024.
The development adds yet another dimension to Kwon’s continuous legal drama, in which he faces charges resulting from the collapse of the Terra/LUNA ecosystem in May 2022.
In a diplomatic spat between South Korea and the United States, Montenegro has taken front stage. Both nations are looking to extradite Kwon on civil and criminal charges related to the $40 billion fall-through.
Having been apprehended for using a fictitious Costa Rican passport while trying to fly to Dubai, Kwon has been imprisoned in Montenegro since March 2023.
Kwon prefers to be tried in South Korea, where the penalty for financial offenses are less severe. However, Montenegro’s courts, prosecutors, and government officials are still divided on which extradition request to honor. This split has resulted in numerous delays and seven court rulings, prompting dissatisfaction and allegations of judicial misconduct.
The legal complications in Kwon’s case are exacerbated by suspicions of political influence. Kwon’s Montenegrin defense attorney, Goran Radić, blasted the ongoing delays as a “judicial disgrace.”
He further alleged that the Minister of Justice, Andrej Milović, made a “illegal private promise” to extradite Kwon to the US, notwithstanding South Korea’s initial request.
Milojko Spajic, Montenegro’s Prime Minister, purportedly has personal investments in Terraform Labs. This discovery, first reported by Bloomberg, adds another layer of controversy and potential conflict of interest to the case.
The deferral of Do Kwon’s extradition demonstrates the complex legal and diplomatic hurdles involved. As Montenegro navigates the competing demands of South Korea and the United States, the eventual outcome is uncertain. This case highlights the complications of international extradition, as well as the high political and legal stakes involved.
Also Read: Montenegro Court Confirms Do Kwon’s Extradition to South Korea
