Albania to extradite crypto exchange founder facing fraud allegations to Türkiye

Photo: AA

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A court in Albania has ordered the extradition of the founder of a now-defunct cryptocurrency exchange to Türkiye, the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA) reported.

Faruk Fatih Özer left Türkiye for Albania on April 20, a day after his Thodex platform suspended all transactions. He was arrested in the country in August.

At the sixth hearing of the case today (November 17), the Elbasan Court of First Instance ruled for his extradition. The decision can be appealed within 15 days.

An Interpol red notice was issued for Özer on April 23, 2021.

Özer, 27, is facing charges of fraud and founding a criminal organization.

Türkiye issued an international arrest warrant after he fled with a reported 2 billion dollars in money investors poured into Thodex.

The platform had around 400,000 users. (VK)