The Challenge Of Do Kwon Extradition Caused The SEC To Delay The Trial Until April

Key Points:

• The SEC agrees to delay the trial of Terraform Labs and its founder, Do Kwon, due to extradition challenges from Montenegro.
• Kwon’s legal team appeals the Montenegro High Court’s ruling supporting extradition requests from South Korea and the US.
• Despite winning an appeal in November, Do Kwon extradition hurdles persist.

According to Reuters, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has agreed to a slight postponement of the trial against Terraform Labs and its co-founder, Do Kwon.

SEC Postpones Terraform Labs Trial Amid Do Kwon Extradition Struggles

The SEC, fully prepared for the trial scheduled to commence on January 29, has now joined a request to defer the start date to no earlier than March 18. This delay is attributed to the legal challenges surrounding Do Kwon extradition to the U.S. while currently situated in Montenegro, where he was arrested in March 2023.

The SEC justifies the delay, citing Kwon’s expressed intention to personally attend the trial. His legal team is actively managing Do Kwon extradition challenges, having recently filed an appeal against the Montenegro High Court‘s decision upholding extradition requests from both his native South Korea and the U.S., where he faces charges.

Despite winning an appeal against extradition requests in November last year, Kwon encountered a setback as the High Court in Podgorica reinstated its ruling in December. His lawyers, in a letter to Judge Jed Rakoff on January 11, requested a trial delay until Kwon could participate in his defense in person. The legal team emphasized the slower-than-expected progress in Do Kwon extradition proceedings, initiated following his detention in Montenegro.

As the legal saga unfolds, the SEC’s decision to postpone ensures a fair and comprehensive trial, considering the complexities introduced by Do Kwon extradition challenges and the need for his direct involvement in the proceedings. The trial, now scheduled for no earlier than March 18, awaits further developments in this intricate legal battle.