Former Monero developer Spagni released from US prison, vows to fight fraud allegations – regulation

Former Monero developer Riccardo Spagni has been released from a US prison where he reportedly spent “sixty-one days in solitary confinement.” The developer's release was prompted by the South African authorities' failure to "support an extradition request in a timely manner."

South African government fails to provide extradition documents

As before reported From Bitcoin.com News, Spagni was arrested in the US on his way to Mexico. His arrest by U.S. law enforcement came at a request from the South African government, which wants to extradite Spagni.

However, after the South African authorities failed to provide the documents necessary for the extradition hearing, the US court then ordered Spagni's release. Now that Spagni has been released from prison, his legal representatives have, according to a Test report, are now trying to gain access to the documents used in the arrest.

"Spagni is now seeking information already in the possession of the [US] government, namely South Africa's request for preliminary arrest," the legal representatives said.

Once this information is available, the lawyers said this information will be used to "make an informed decision on waiving non-custodial extradition and determining whether South Africa's application for provisional arrest includes an arrest warrant in the contract."

Spagni plans to return to South Africa

Meanwhile Spagni too Confirmed via his Twitter account that he has been released from prison and is now working with his lawyers to resolve the fraud case. Spagni said in a tweet:

I am very pleased that the US court has released me. I am actively working with my lawyers to return to South Africa as quickly as possible so that I can address this matter and put it behind me once and for all. I've always wanted to do that.

Spagni's legal troubles began after his former employer, Cape Cookies, accused him of defrauding the company of the equivalent of $98,200. This offense is alleged to have occurred between October 1, 2009 and June 8, 2011, while Spagni was an employee of Cape Cookies.

After some delay, Spagni's court dates were finally scheduled for March 24 and April 19, 2021. However, before the hearing began, Spagni left South Africa for Bermuda, where he stayed briefly before heading to the United States, and his wife are said to have entered the United States on April 19, the same day he was scheduled to appear in court in South Africa.

It was this failure to attend a scheduled court hearing that led the South African government to make an extradition request to U.S. law enforcement.

What do you think about this story? Tell us what you think in the comments section below.

Photo credits: Shutterstock, Pixabay, Wiki Commons