Amidst mounting legal battles, Terraform Labs Co-Founder Do Kwon faces uncertainty regarding his upcoming civil trial, scheduled for March 25. Recent developments, including the High Court of Podgorica’s ruling on Kwon’s extradition, have brought his potential absence on the trial’s initial day into focus.
High court denies Do Kwon’s extradition to South Korea
Last week, the High Court of Podgorica made a decisive ruling regarding Kwon’s extradition, opting to deny his request to be extradited to his native South Korea in favor of extradition to the United States.
This ruling follows Kwon’s arrest in March 2023 in Montenegro on eight charges, including securities fraud, commodities fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy.
Kwon’s legal team, led by attorney David Patton, has voiced concerns over the court’s handling of the extradition process, citing repeated delays and the potential for further alterations to the decision. Despite arguments asserting the authority of Montenegro’s Justice Minister in extradition matters, the court’s decision remains firm, leaving the timing of Kwon’s extradition uncertain.
Trial Postponement and Availability
Given the uncertainty surrounding Kwon’s extradition, his legal team successfully petitioned the court to postpone the SEC trial, originally slated for January, to mid-March. However, with doubts lingering over Kwon’s availability for the trial’s commencement, Patton has indicated that further postponements will not be sought, emphasizing Kwon’s commitment to attending proceedings.
Kwon’s legal representatives, including Goran Rodic in Montenegro, have raised concerns over what they perceive as “numerous unanticipated mistakes” within the local lower court system. Rodic specifically pointed to errors in the handling of Kwon’s extradition request to South Korea, alleging that the rejection was based on inaccurate information regarding the sequence of extradition requests received.
Amidst these challenges, Kwon’s legal team faces an uphill battle in navigating the complexities of international extradition law and ensuring fair legal proceedings for their client.
