The continuing extradition case concerning Do Kwon has now been placed in the hands of the Montenegrin Justice Minister to determine his destination.
Following a reassessment of the Local Supreme Court’s reversal of Do Kwon’s extradition to South Korea, the High Court in Montenegro has determined that all legal prerequisites for extraditing the troubled co-founder of Terraform Labs to either the United States or Korea have been met.
Do Kwon’s Extradition Saga
This week, the most recent sitting of the Montenegro High Court cleared Do Kwon’s extradition request despite his significant involvement in the cryptocurrency Terra Luna collapse.
A significant development is that the court has yet to definitively determine whether he should be sent to South Korea or the United States.
Significantly, in recent months, considerable debate has ensued regarding the extradition destination for the former crypto CEO, given that he faces criminal charges in both countries where the extradition is at issue.
A High Court in Montenegro issued a ruling in the initial week of March mandating the extradition of Do Kwon to South Korea.
The court in Montenegro subsequently rescinded its initial petition to extradite Kwon to the United States.
Prosecutors in Montenegro unequivocally declined to recognize the court’s verdict, which created contention regarding his anticipated extradition to his hometown.
This compelled an examination of the South Korean decision.
Supreme Court Gives U.S. An Advantage
Per the complex turn in the Do Kwon extradition and ruling, Prosecutors demand a review from the Supreme Court on the extradition.
The attorneys cited procedural irregularities that occurred during the processing of extradition petitions from South Korea and the United States.
According to a statement from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ),
“The United States continues to seek Kwon’s extradition in accordance with relevant international and bilateral agreements and Montenegrin law. The United States appreciates the cooperation of the Montenegrin authorities in ensuring that all individuals are subject to the rule of law.”
After carefully examining the motion, the Supreme Court decided to vacate the extradition judgment from South Korea.
The court underscored the imperative for the High Court in Podgorica to conduct a comprehensive assessment.
The ultimate determination of his extradition location remains unresolved and is under the purview of Minister of Justice Andrej Milovic.
However, the United States holds a preponderance in this regard due to the ruling of the Supreme Court.
Per a statement from the Supreme Court, “The decision to approve or prioritize extradition of criminals should be made by the competent minister, not the court.”
