Montenegro Court Reverses Decision on Do Kwon’s Extradition

In a recent development, Do Kwon, the creator of Terra (LUNA), had his extradition order to the United States reversed by a Montenegro appeal court. This means that the matter will now go to trial again.

The finding, detailed in a news statement, overturns the earlier decision that permitted Kwon’s extradition to the United States and South Korea on the grounds of his suspected role in the multibillion-dollar collapse of the Terra ecosystem. That earlier ruling was revoked because the appeal court found it “incomprehensible” and did not provide sufficient factual evidence. The first extradition orders were not properly formed, which is required by law, the court also found.

According to the appellate court judge, “the court of first instance did not establish in an unquestionable way the order of arrival of the petitions of the Republic of South Korea and the United States of America,” a critical aspect in such extradition proceedings involving multiple countries.

Legal Background and Previous Rulings

The original ruling, issued in November, concluded that the legal requirements for extraditing Kwon to both the US and South Korea had been fulfilled. The decision was based on petitions from the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Korea and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United States, citing allegations of defrauding investors, market manipulation, and mismanagement of funds.

Despite the November ruling, authorities extended Kwon’s custody period in December, compelling him to remain in Montenegro for an additional two months. Kwon’s arrest in June 2023 occurred when he attempted to board a flight to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) using a forged Costa Rican passport.

As the legal proceedings continue, the Montenegro appellate court’s decision marks a significant turn in Kwon’s extradition case, prompting a retrial and raising questions about the validity of previous rulings in the Terra ecosystem scandal.