Montenegro’s Supreme State Prosecutor Contests Extradition of Do Kwon

Former businessman and co-founder of Terraform Labs, Do Kwon, is once again facing significant hurdles in his extradition to South Korea after Montenegro’s highest prosecutor disputed the decision. The Supreme State Prosecutor has objected to the jurisdiction of the High Court’s ruling, suggesting that it may have overstepped its authority.

The Supreme State Prosecutor of Montenegro, the country’s highest legal authority, has raised concerns about the High Court’s decision to extradite Do Kwon to South Korea. According to a report from Montenegro’s Office of the Supreme State Prosecutor, procedural errors in the extradition process have been identified. The report states that the top prosecutor believes the High Court has exceeded its authority by making a decision on extradition, which is solely the prerogative of the Justice Minister.

The question of jurisdiction stems from Do Kwon’s arrest by Montenegrin authorities in March 2023 during his trip to Dubai, on charges of using counterfeit documents. This arrest followed the collapse of Terraform Labs in May 2022, which resulted in a staggering $40 billion loss in the cryptocurrency market.

Do Kwon is facing criminal charges in both the United States and South Korea, and his extradition has been under consideration by the Montenegrin court since the beginning of his trial. While Kwon’s associate, Han Chang-joon, has already been successfully extradited to South Korea, Kwon’s fate remains uncertain due to ongoing appeals.

Extradition is a complex process, especially in high-profile cases involving multiple countries. It remains to be seen what will happen next for Do Kwon. As he awaits his trial in either the United States or his home country, it will be interesting to see if Montenegro’s Ministry of Justice will take action and consider the extradition order.