Montenegrin Prosecutor Haris Šabotić: First Lawyer To Face Do Kwon In Court
Haris Šabotić, a 36-year-old Montenegrin prosecutor, is set to make legal history by being the first lawyer to face Do Kwon in court. Kwon and his accomplice, Han Chang-joon, are wanted by the US and South Korea for charges relating to the $60 billion collapse of Terra. However, their first time in court was over accusations of using a forged Costa Rican passport.
According to dlnews, Montenegro prosecutors said they would complete the investigation before April 23, and Do Kwon and the other two face up to five years in prison if convicted of forgery. But if not enough evidence is obtained, criminal charges against it will be dismissed and…
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Do Kwon’s Arrest
In an interview with DL News, Šabotić was matter of fact and stated that they are only concerned with charging Kwon for using the forged documents. How Kwon got hold of the documents is a matter for the police. Despite declining to elaborate on the more salacious details surrounding the arrest that ended a six-month international manhunt, Šabotić did reveal that the trigger for the arrest was not the Interpol Red Notice, but a border guard’s suspicions over the legitimacy of Kwon and Han’s passports.
Kwon and Han are suspected to have entered Montenegro 10 days before their arrest on March 23, but it’s unknown which border crossing they used or what identification they used to enter. The pair were last known to be in Serbia, but their trail had run cold, Serbian prosecutor Branko Stamenkovic revealed to DL News earlier this month.
False Costa Rican Passports
On March 23, around 3 pm local time, Šabotić received a call from the police saying two wanted Korean citizens had been arrested at the airport in Podgorica on suspicion of using false Costa Rican passports. “Those passports were suspicious and that was the alarm for the police,” Duško Milanović, Head of State Prosecution Office told DL News. “After that, we got a notification that the person arrested is wanted by Interpol.”
After Montenegrin police arrested Kwon and Han, they were taken to a police station in Podgorica, the country’s capital, before questioning. “They gave a brief statement in English to the prosecution and denied being guilty,” Šabotić said.
Kwon and Han were found to have Belgian identity documents in their luggage. Montenegro’s Minister of Justice Marko Kovač confirmed on Wednesday that all evidence found on the two men will be shared with US and South Korean authorities. Both countries have officially requested Do Kwon be extradited. However, it will be up to a Montenegrin judge to determine which country gets him first.
Kwon and Han await Trial
Šabotić’s job, alongside head prosecutor Duško Milanović, is to formally charge Kwon and Han for using false documents. A judge ruled the pair could be detained until April 23 while the prosecution gathers enough evidence. Šabotić has many cases under his belt, including falsification of documents, serious theft, and the illegal possession of weapons and explosive materials.
“They were like any other defendant,” Šabotić told DL News. “As soon as we collect enough evidence, we’ll finish this case.” He added that he is expected to be done before the legal deadline of April 23. Once the prosecution brings formal charges, the two men will stand trial before Podgorica’s Basic Court. If found guilty, they face up to five years in prison.
Šabotić also explained what would happen if Kwon and Han were found not guilty. “If we don’t obtain enough evidence, criminal charges for this will be dismissed, and we will inform the Higher Court in Podgorica so they can take the case, because of the Interpol arrest warrant,” Šabotić said.
