The legal battle involving Terraform Labs’ co-founder and prominent figure in the crypto world, Do Kwon, is becoming more convoluted. The possibility of Kwon not attending the first day of his trial, which starts on March 25th, as implied by his lawyer David Patton, is among the latest notable details. However, this is not merely speculation but also a result of uncertainties and delays related to Kwon’s extradition.
Court Decides on Kwon’s Extradition
In recent weeks, the Podgorica High Court’s decision to extradite Kwon to the USA and South Korea’s refusal of the extradition request have made matters even more complex. Kwon’s legal team argued that the authority to decide on the extradition lies with the Montenegrin Minister of Justice. However, the court rejected this claim. Although it was indicated that the decision could be reviewed, the timing of Kwon’s extradition remains uncertain.
The process that began with Do Kwon’s arrest in Montenegro in March 2023 led to him facing eight charges including securities fraud, commodity fraud, and conspiracy. Kwon’s lawyers emphasized the slowness of the extradition process and repeated delays, requesting that the SEC hearing, initially scheduled for January, be postponed to mid-March.
Kwon’s Potential Unavailability for Court
Despite the court’s acceptance of the request, Kwon’s desire to attend the hearing in person has increased uncertainties related to his extradition. Attorney Patton expressed the possibility of his client not being ready for the first day of the criminal trial, while emphasizing that they will not seek another postponement.
According to Kwon’s lawyer in Montenegro, Goran Rodic, “numerous unexpected errors” by the primary court have affected the legal process in Montenegro and caused delays. Rodic stated that the request to extradite Kwon to South Korea was denied due to a mistake stemming from the court’s lack of information regarding the US’s request.
At this point, Do Kwon’s legal battle highlights the complexity of international law and the length of the process. Future developments will determine not only Kwon’s influence in the crypto world but also the shape of his legal situation. Every detail of the trial process inevitably affects the cryptocurrency tokens LUNA and LUNC. As of writing this article, LUNA is trading at $0.7, while LUNC is at $0.00013311.
