Summary:
- A Basic Court in Montenegro’s capital Podgorica agreed to bail terms for Do Kwon and a second Terra executive identified as Han Chang-joon.
- Kwon will be released after paying $437,,000 or €400,000 in bail but he cannot leave his apartment or exit the country.
- Montenegro authorities charged the Terraform Labs founder with forgery after he was detained before he boarded a private plane to Dubai.
TerraUSD creator Do Kwon will be released in Montenegro after a court in the country’s capital granted his bail request.
Kwon’s lawyers proposed a bail of $437,000 or the equivalent of €400,000 during a court hearing on Thursday. The charges claim that Do Kwon traveled with forged documents after his arrest in March.
Local prosecutors argued that the two suspects have the financial means to escape Montenegro and have “zero interest” in staying in the country, an argument seemingly insufficient for the court.
A Basic Court in Podgorica will allow Kwon to stay at his apartment after he pays the bail. Han, a Terra executive detained alongside Kwon, will pay the same amount. Both defendants cannot leave their apartment or Montenegro and must answer all court summons per the terms of Friday’s bail ruling. Montenegrin prosecutors have three days to appeal this ruling.
Do Kwon Jail Time
Do Kwon who was about to board a private jet bound for Dubai before his arrest could spend five years in a Montenegrin prison cell if convicted. Another court hearing is scheduled for June 16 as authorities prepare to prosecute the Terraform Labs founder for allegedly forging travel papers.
Even if Kwon is cleared in a Montenegro court, possible extradition awaits for the crypto entrepreneur whose company obliterated $40 billion from the market last May.
Wen Extradition?
It’s unclear how prosecution in Montenegro will affect extradition requests from South Korea and the U.S. Both jurisdictions hope to arraign Do Kwon, although investigators in South Korea argue that trying him in his home country is the best option.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) already filed civil fraud charges against the Terraform Labs founder.