7 months ago
Montenegro’s High Court has denied South Korea’s petition for the extradition of crypto magnate Do Kwon, opting alternatively to extradite him to the US, section media reported Feb. 21.
The determination marks a pivotal crook successful the planetary ineligible saga surrounding Kwon, the laminitis of Terraform Labs, who faces charges related to fiscal crimes successful some countries. The timeline for his extradition is unclear and could instrumentality respective weeks oregon months to finalize.
Extradition processes tin alteration successful magnitude and complexity, depending connected the ineligible frameworks, the practice betwixt the progressive countries, and immoderate imaginable appeals oregon further ineligible actions that mightiness beryllium taken by the parties involved.
Given the high-profile quality of Kwon’s lawsuit and the engagement of aggregate jurisdictions, it’s apt that the extradition process volition beryllium intimately monitored and taxable to strict procedures to guarantee its legality and fairness.
Political considerations
The appellate tribunal had antecedently directed the High Court to find whether Kwon would beryllium extradited to South Korea oregon the US, arsenic some states had made authoritative requests. While archetypal rulings confirmed the eligibility for Kwon’s extradition, the determination connected wherever to nonstop him was near to Justice Minister Andrej Milović.
However, the appellate tribunal aboriginal overturned the ruling and clarified that the Justice Minister’s decision-making relation lone applies successful regular extradition proceedings. Since Kwon consented to extradition successful a fast-track process, the last determination fell to the court.
Kwon’s defense, led by lawyer Goran Rodić, had argued for his client’s extradition to South Korea based connected legal grounds, including the European Extradition Convention, a bilateral statement with America, and Montenegro’s instrumentality connected planetary ineligible assistance.
Despite these arguments, the tribunal has decided to extradite Kwon to the US, reflecting deeper governmental considerations, as Milović antecedently stated that the US is Montenegro’s main overseas argumentation partner.
Fake documents
The saga began erstwhile Kwon and his subordinate Han Chang Jun were arrested successful March past twelvemonth astatine Podgorica Airport, attempting to alert to Dubai with fake Costa Rican passports.
Further probe revealed they besides possessed Belgian question documents, which they claimed to person obtained done an bureau successful Singapore for planetary travel.
During the tribunal proceedings successful Podgorica, Kwon explained that the Belgian passports had incorrect names and birthdates, truthful they opted to usage the Costa Rican passports to question instead.
Kwon further claimed that helium was unaware that the Costa Rican passports were fake arsenic the issuing bureau had seemed legitimate.
He said his spot successful the issuing bureau was based connected erstwhile palmy applications, including a denied petition for Grenada passports but an approved 1 for Costa Rica, which built their assurance successful the agency’s reliability.
The station Montenegro precocious tribunal greenlights Do Kwon’s extradition to US appeared archetypal connected CryptoSlate.
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