The Dutch courts have decided that his web3 developer will remain behind bars.
Alexey Pertsev, a developer for the crypto company Tornado Cash, was sentenced to five years and four months in prison by a Dutch court on money laundering charges. Following this, Pertsev’s legal team promptly filed an appeal with the s-Hertogenbosch Court of Appeal and hoped to be released on bail to prepare for the upcoming trial from home with internet access.
However, this request for bail was surprisingly denied according to DL News. Adding to Pertsev’s challenges, his prison officials also denied him access to a computer, hindering his ability to assist his lawyers in preparing for the appeal.
This decision has drawn criticism from JusticeDAO, an organization supporting the legal defense of Tornado Cash developers. An anonymous account affiliated with the group expressed outrage on social media, stating that Pertsev facing another year in jail while his appeal is heard is a grave injustice. They argued that developers shouldn’t be held responsible for the actions of those who misuse the technology they create.
This is a gross miscarriage of justice. Developers do not belong in jail for the actions of third parties.”
JusticeDAO
Pertsev’s case is just one chapter in a larger story. He is among three Tornado Cash developers targeted by authorities for their work on the cryptocurrency mixing protocol. Advocates for the developers argue that Tornado Cash is a legitimate privacy tool for the Ethereum blockchain and that targeting its creators will have a chilling effect on all blockchain developers. Prosecutors, however, allege the developers were at least aware of, and potentially even facilitated, criminal organizations using the platform to launder stolen funds.
The legal battles for Tornado Cash developers continue on multiple fronts. Co-founder Roman Storm’s case is ongoing in the United States, while the whereabouts of fellow co-founder Roman Semenov remain unknown.
