The extradition saga of Do Kwon, the Co-Founder and Former CEO of Terraform Labs, has taken a significant turn with the approval of his extradition to the US by the High Court of Podgorica.
This decision comes after the rejection of South Korea’s extradition plea and a series of legal deliberations.
Initially, Kwon’s defense attorney, Goran Rodić, argued in favor of extradition to South Korea, citing international agreements and Montenegrin laws.
However, Justice Minister Andrej Milović emphasized the political significance of the decision, highlighting the US as a key diplomatic ally and signaling Montenegro’s commitment to international legal cooperation.
Kwon’s legal troubles began with his arrest alongside Terraform Labs’ Former Chief Finance Officer, Han Chang-joon, at the Podgorica airport, where they were found attempting to board a flight to Dubai using fake Costa Rican passports.
Chang-joon has since been extradited to South Korea, further complicating Kwon’s legal situation.
The extradition decision for Kwon follows a series of legal maneuvers, including a retrial due to procedural errors by Montenegro’s Appeals Court.
Despite previous approval for his extradition, uncertainties persist, including the timeline for extradition and complications arising from a class-action lawsuit filed in Singapore involving more than 300 parties affected by the devaluation of the UST token linked to Terraform Labs.