Do Kwon now breathes fresh air twice a day, as he finds himself in a unique situation within the confines of the “new residence” – a dilapidated prison in Montenegro filled with organized criminals awaiting trial, but Do Kwon is kept separate from the rest.
Goran Rodic, Do Kwon’s lawyer, recently disclosed that the co-founder and CEO of Terraform Labs, once a prominent figure in the encryption industry, is currently being held in isolation within the pretrial detention area of an overcrowded prison in Montenegro. This segregation from other prisoners is due to his specific circumstances.
Earlier this year, Do Kwon attempted to depart Montenegro on a private jet using a Costa Rican passport. However, his passport was deemed fraudulent by the prosecutors at the District Court of Montenegro’s capital, Podgorica, resulting in his failed escape. Consequently, on the 19th, he received a four-month prison sentence for passport forgery. Therefore, for the foreseeable future, Balkan Spitz Prison in Montenegro will serve as Do Kwon’s “new residence.”
Do Kwon’s Prison Life: Inside Montenegro’s Spritz Prison
Do Kwon will find himself confined within the walls of Spritz Prison, a densely populated correctional facility situated roughly twelve kilometers northwest of Podgorica, the capital of Montenegro. Twice a day, prison guards allow him brief respite from his cell, permitting him to venture into the courtyard to stretch his legs.
Do Kwon’s conviction for employing a counterfeit passport resulted in a prison sentence of up to four months, while his partner in crime, Han Chang-Joon, faced similar circumstances and was unable to secure release. The fraudulent activities tied to the collapse of Terra led to Do Kwon being accused of fraud by South Korean and US prosecutors in May 2022. Evading capture by Interpol’s red notice, he sought refuge in Serbia and Montenegro, having safeguarded Bitcoin holdings in a Swiss bank.
Should Montenegro’s judicial authorities extradite Do Kwon and his associates, they would face a minimum prison term of six months. Currently, Do Kwon’s legal representative confirms his well-being and emotional stability, though the prison conditions remain abysmal. Contrary to cinematic portrayals, imprisonment is far from an easy experience for anyone.
Spritz Prison, situated in the Belopavlic Valley between Podgorica and Danilovgrad, stands as Montenegro’s largest correctional facility. Disturbing incidents of inmate abuse by prison staff have come to light, revealing a bleak environment within its confines. In February of the present year, hundreds of Spritz Prison inmates staged an eight-day hunger strike to demand improved conditions, protesting against cramped cells, substandard food quality, and inadequate medical provisions.
Gang Violence and Overcrowding in Montenegro’s Spritz Prison
As per Aleksandra Dubak, a legal adviser affiliated with the Civic Alliance, an organization dedicated to overseeing prisons in Montenegro, Spritz Prison accommodates several highly militant mafia families from the Balkans. Additionally, a group of gang affiliates faces charges related to activities such as murder, bomb planting, racketeering, and international drug smuggling. The local media has reported on the severity of gang violence within Spritz Prison, necessitating increased surveillance measures to prevent clashes between rival factions.
To mitigate the risk of violence, prison officials have taken the step of segregating members of rival gangs in different sections of the facility, thereby minimizing their contact. However, this approach has resulted in challenges such as the uneven distribution of prison space and severe overcrowding. At the beginning of the year, the pre-trial detention center within Spritz Prison, designed to house 292 individuals, held a staggering 380 prisoners.
Do Kwon’s lawyer unconcerned about his life in Spritz Prison
In response to the issue of overcrowding at Spritz Prison, Aleksandra Dubak acknowledged that the facility has been grappling with this problem for many years. She further explained that prisoners may be granted solitary cells if there are specific reasons, such as health conditions, a significant risk of violence, or other special requirements.
Regarding Do Kwon’s situation, his lawyer, Goran Rodic, appeared unconcerned about his client’s life behind bars. He stated that it was too early to discuss appealing the falsified conviction and that his primary focus was currently on preparing a review of the extradition case. Goran Rodic also revealed that, as of Tuesday (June 20), Do Kwon had yet to receive the extradition papers.
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