The Tokyo district court convicted the former CEO of bitcoin exchange Mt.Gox Mark Karpeles of forgery and sentenced to two years and six months imprisonment. Nevertheless, ahead of Karpeles probation in four years to prove their trustworthiness and to avoid real prison. It is reported by The Block.
Note that the Prosecutor demanded 10 years in prison, but on charges of embezzlement and breach of corporate law Karpeles was found not guilty.
“I am grateful to the court and I am glad that I was found innocent of embezzlement and breach of obligations”, — he said.
Karpeles and his lawyers are going to assess the situation and develop a strategy of action in relation to the issued charges.
Earlier, the court of Illinois rejected the petition of lawyers of the former head of Mt.Gox to suspend proceedings against him in the USA. So, American investors, Gregory Greene and Anthony Motto need to recognize personal responsibility Karpeles for the loss of their investment.
Once the largest bitcoin exchange Mt. Gox collapsed in early-2014. This happened after the recent information about its alleged hacking and theft of 800,000 BTC ($480 million at the time). In December last year, Karpeles during the closing speech at the Tokyo trial called himself innocent in the events that led to multimillion losses of customers and the collapse of the company.
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