The much-anticipated fraud trial of the disgraced FTX founder, Sam Bankman-Fried, reportedly faces the potential for delay following complaints from his legal team regarding insufficient time for evidence review.
As outlined in a recent Reuters report, Judge Lewis Kaplan is contemplating a potential postponement of the trial by five months, with the prospect of merging it with a previously scheduled case concerning Bankman-Fried’s forgery charges in the Bahamas.
Bankman-Fried’s legal representatives contend that essential hard drives containing millions of critical evidentiary pages were not provided to their client for thorough examination.
According to Judge Kaplan, as conveyed through Reuters,
“If the defendant is genuinely of the opinion that a postponement is warranted, they are free to request it.”
However, the report emphasizes that Judge Kaplan is unlikely to grant a delay solely based on the substantial volume of evidence, requiring the defense to establish a “bona fide and unforeseen necessity.”
Judge Kaplan also underscores the absence of any indications of prosecutorial misconduct, considering that most evidence originates from Bankman-Fried’s personal Google account, accessible to him prior to his bail revocation.
Previously, Bankman-Fried’s legal team sought unrestricted prison visitation privileges and later petitioned for his temporary release prior to the trial.
Following alleged witness tampering, Bankman-Fried’s bail was revoked earlier this month. Should the trial merge with the other case, the trial date would shift from October 3rd, 2023, to March 11, 2024, according to the report.
The charges against Bankman-Fried pertain to investor fraud and the alleged mismanagement of billions in customer funds linked to the 2022 collapse of the cryptocurrency exchange FTX. A conviction could result in an extensive prison sentence spanning decades.
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Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial or investment advice. Cryptocurrency investments are subject to market risks, and individuals should seek professional advice before making any investment decisions.
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