Terra Kwon Do-hyung in solitary confinement... "It's better to be there"

Montenegro Prison Notorious for Gang Violence
Attorney Kwon Do-hyung Remains Tight-Lipped on Appeal Decision
Extradition Country Between Korea and the US to Be Decided Possibly Within This Year

Kwon Do-hyung, CEO of Terraform Labs and a key figure in the cryptocurrency 'Terra·Luna' crash incident, who was sentenced to four months in prison by a Montenegrin court, has been confirmed to be living in solitary confinement in the detention center.

According to the Montenegrin daily 'Pobjeda' on the 26th (local time), Goran Lodi?, Kwon's local legal representative, recently revealed in an interview with the cryptocurrency specialized media DL News that Kwon is using a solitary cell in the detention center.

Kwon Do-hyung, CEO of Terraform Labs, is heading to the Podgorica District Court in Podgorica, the capital of Montenegro, on the 16th (local time) to face trial for a forged passport case.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Earlier, at the trial on the 16th, Kwon requested the judge to allow him to share a room with his aide Han Mo, saying, "It is difficult because there is no one to talk to," but the request was denied. However, it is presumed that he was living in solitary confinement even then.

Attorney Lodi? said that Kwon and Han are enduring their imprisonment well but did not explain since when or why Kwon has been staying in solitary confinement.

Lodi? stated, "Kwon Do-hyung is currently staying in solitary confinement and comes out twice a day to get some fresh air," adding, "They are healthy and stable, but (prison life) is different from movies, and prison is not an easy place for anyone."

Spu? Detention Center, Frequent Violent Clashes Among Gangs

Kwon Do-hyung, CEO of Terraform Labs, detained at Spuzz Detention Center
Photo by Yonhap News

The Spu? Detention Center, where CEO Kwon Do-hyung is incarcerated, is located about 12 km northwest of Podgorica, the capital of Montenegro.

According to the Montenegrin daily 'Vijesti,' as of early this year, the Spu? Detention Center has space for 292 inmates but houses 380 people.

According to Aleksandra Dubak, legal advisor of the Montenegrin human rights organization 'Civic Alliance,' the Spu? Detention Center holds a large number of pre-trial detainees involved in Balkan mafia gangs, murder, bombings, extortion, and drug trafficking.

Dubak said, "Prison guards separate rival gang members into different zones and increase surveillance to prevent them from encountering each other." As a result, prison space is not efficiently utilized, causing issues such as overcrowding.

She added, "Spu? Detention Center has suffered from overcrowding for years, so if an inmate is living in solitary confinement, there must be a special reason," explaining, "It could be due to poor health, serious risk of violence, or special requests."

The Spu? Detention Center is notorious for frequent violent clashes due to gang rivalries and conflicts. DL News reported that Kwon might actually be grateful for being in solitary confinement.

Decision on Kwon Do-hyung’s Extradition Country Expected by Year-End

In May, Kwon Do-hyung heading to the Podgorica District Court
Photo by Yonhap News

Kwon and Han were arrested on March 23 at Podgorica International Airport while attempting to leave for Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), using forged Costa Rican passports, and were subsequently charged.

After their arrest, they were detained at Spu? Detention Center and sentenced to four months in prison by the Podgorica District Court on the 19th. Including the time already served, about one month remains on their sentences, but the Podgorica High Court, a higher court, extended their detention by six months to secure custody necessary for extradition proceedings, meaning they will not be able to leave Spu? Detention Center for the time being.

Meanwhile, South Korea, investigating the Terra·Luna incident, and the United States, which indicted Kwon on charges of market manipulation, are competing over where to extradite him.

The extradition country will be decided by the Montenegrin judicial authorities who apprehended him, considering factors such as the severity of the crime, order of requests, and the suspect’s nationality. Since the Podgorica High Court ordered a six-month detention for extradition purposes on the 15th (local time), a decision on whether to extradite him domestically is expected as early as mid-December.

Victims of the Terra·Luna crash hope that Kwon will be extradited to the United States, believing that he would receive a harsher sentence there. A survey conducted in March among the domestic victims’ community showed that 70% of victims preferred 'extradition to the U.S.,' while only 15% wished for extradition to South Korea.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.