Regulation News

Breaking: Terra Founder Do Kwon’s South Korea Extradition Delayed By Supreme Court

Embattled Terraform Labs founder Do Kwon's extradition to South Korea has been delayed until Montenegro Supreme Court verifies prosecutor claims in the case.
Published by
Breaking: Terra Founder Do Kwon’s South Korea Extradition Delayed By Supreme Court

Highlights

  • Disgraced South Korean crypto entrepreneur Do Kwon's extradition to South Korea has been put on hold.
  • This decision was announced by the Montenegro Supreme Court on Thursday, August 8.
  • The Supreme Court aims to verify the prosecutor's claims before proceeding with the extradition.

The Supreme Court of Montenegro has delayed the extradition of Do Kwon, the embattled founder of Terraform Labs, to South Korea. This decision came in response to a request for the protection of legality filed by the Supreme State Prosecutor’s Office (VDT) on August 2, 2024.

Advertisement

Supreme Court Delays Do Kwon’s Extradition To South Korea

The VDT’s request seeks to delay the enforcement of earlier decisions by both the High Court in Podgorica and the Court of Appeal. These courts had earlier approved Do Kwon’s extradition to his home country, South Korea. The Supreme Court panel, led by Judge Seka Piletić, determined that the extradition would be postponed until the court can review the VDT’s request.

Moreover, the decision was influenced by concerns raised about potential legal violations in the process leading to the initial rulings. Hence, the VDT requested that the Supreme Court evaluate whether the extradition decisions adhered to Montenegrin law and international treaties. They also requested an evaluation whether the extradition should proceed to South Korea rather than the United States, according Montenegro news outlet Vijesti.

Hence, the Supreme Court’s decision effectively halted the immediate execution of the extradition. This puts the plans of the Montenegrin Police Directorate and Ministry of Justice on hold. This move also adds another layer of complexity to an already convoluted legal saga that has seen multiple court decisions and revisions over the past several months.

Also Read: XRP ETF Odds Surge As Ripple SEC Lawsuit Ends With Final Ruling

Arguments By Prosecutor’s Office

The Supreme State Prosecutor’s Office submitted the request following a ruling by the Court of Appeal that upheld the High Court’s decision to extradite Do Kwon to South Korea. The VDT argued that there were potential breaches of the Law on International Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters. Hence, they warranted a thorough review by the highest court in the crypto fraud case.

The VDT’s statement explained, “On August 2, 2024, the Supreme State Prosecutor’s Office filed a request for protection of legality before the Supreme Court of Montenegro against the decision of the High Court in Podgorica and the Court of Appeal in the aforementioned case, due to the violation of the Law on International Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters.”

Moreover, the VDT further requested that the Supreme Court temporarily halt the enforcement of these decisions. The prosecutor’s office has requested a final ruling on the legality of the extradition process, which could determine the enforcement.

Advertisement

Terra Founder’s Legal Defense

Do Kwon’s legal representative, attorney Goran Radić, has expressed concern over “inconsistent legal decisions” throughout the extradition process. Furthermore, Radić noted that the prosecution did not object to an earlier decision by the High Court to extradite Kwon to the United States.

However, after that decision was overturned, a subsequent ruling allowed for extradition to South Korea. This places the final decision in the hands of Montenegro’s Minister of Justice. Hence, Radić pointed out that the changes in decisions and the involvement of different authorities in the extradition process have raised questions about the legality and consistency of the actions taken.

He remarked, “Revision of a final decision, which is in favor of the defendant, is not possible except with abuse of position. Since a final decision cannot be changed in a legal way, then there is no point in delaying its execution.” Do Kwon’s defense lawyer also emphasized the broader implications of this case for Montenegro’s legal system.

He highlighted the “judicial disgrace” of having seven separate court decisions regarding Kwon’s extradition, an unprecedented situation in Montenegrin legal history. For context, Do Kwon, who has been in custody in Montenegro since March 2023, is accused of orchestrating a $40 billion crypto fraud. The scheme allegedly involves his companies, Terraform Labs and its associated cryptocurrency, Terra (LUNA).

Also Read: Breaking: Ripple Ordered To Pay $125 Mln Penalty In SEC Lawsuit

Advertisement

Share
Kritika Mehta

Kritika boasts over 2 years of experience in the financial news sector. Currently working as a crypto journalist at Coingape, she has consistently shown a knack for blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies. Kritika combines insightful analysis with a deep understanding of market trends. With a keen interest in technical analysis, she brings a nuanced perspective to her reporting, exploring the intersection of finance, technology, and emerging trends in the crypto space.

Published by
Why trust CoinGape: CoinGape has covered the cryptocurrency industry since 2017, aiming to provide informative insights to our readers. Our journalists and analysts bring years of experience in market analysis and blockchain technology to ensure factual accuracy and balanced reporting. By following our Editorial Policy, our writers verify every source, fact-check each story, rely on reputable sources, and attribute quotes and media correctly. We also follow a rigorous Review Methodology when evaluating exchanges and tools. From emerging blockchain projects and coin launches to industry events and technical developments, we cover all facets of the digital asset space with unwavering commitment to timely, relevant information.
Investment disclaimer: The content reflects the author’s personal views and current market conditions. Please conduct your own research before investing in cryptocurrencies, as neither the author nor the publication is responsible for any financial losses.
Ad Disclosure: This site may feature sponsored content and affiliate links. All advertisements are clearly labeled, and ad partners have no influence over our editorial content.

Recent Posts

  • News

Standard Chartered Predicts Bitcoin Could Drop Below $100K Amid U.S.–China Trade Tensions

Standard Chartered analyst Geoff Kendrick has predicted that the Bitcoin price could suffer a significant…

October 22, 2025
  • News

Rising Demand for Verifiable Crypto Ownership Drives Launch of Trezor Safe 7

Crypto ownership is a topic that has been discussed across major forums globally in the…

October 22, 2025
  • News

Robinhood Lists Binance Coin as BNB Outperforms BTC, ETH, SOL YTD By Over 30%

Crypto exchange Robinhood has listed the Binance coin for spot trading for its U.S. customers.…

October 22, 2025
  • News

Bitget Partners With Google Developer Group On Hackathon To Support AI Innovation

Bitget, a leading crypto exchange in the world, has joined forces with Google Developer Group…

October 22, 2025
  • News

Can Cardano Save Kadena? Hoskinson Reaches Out After KDA Token Plunges Amid Scam Allegations

Kadena has announced it was shutting down operations, sending its KDA price into a freefall.…

October 22, 2025
  • News

Analyst Turn Bullish with $400 SOL Target as Hong Kong Approves First-Ever Solana ETF in Asia

Hong Kong has officially approved the region’s first-ever Solana ETF in Asia. This comes as…

October 22, 2025