Montenegro To Extradite Do Kwon To South Korea To Face Cryptocurrency Charges

South Korean cryptocurrency entrepreneur Hyeong Do Kwon leaves prison in Montenegro after being sentenced in March. (file photo)

A Montenegrin court of appeals confirmed on August 1 the decision to extradite Hyeong Do Kwon to South Korea, rejecting Washington's request for extradition. The former CEO and co-founder of the cryptocurrency company Terraform Labs is being sought by U.S. and South Korean authorities for his alleged role in capital market and securities fraud involving assets worth some $40 billion. Do Kwon was arrested with his business partner Chang Joon in March 2023 at Podgorica airport while attempting to fly to Dubai using a fake passport. Chang, who was wanted only by South Korea, was extradited to Seoul on February 5. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Balkan Service, click here.