Craig Wright Sentenced to Prison for Contempt of Court
Craig Wright, the controversial computer scientist who falsely claimed to be Bitcoin’s creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, has been sentenced to one year in prison for contempt of court. The UK court proceedings on Dec. 19 revealed that the judge suspended the sentence for two years, indicating that Wright will only face incarceration if he violates court orders during this period.
Current Situation
Wright, who attended the hearing remotely, claims to be in Asia, potentially in Singapore or Indonesia. His geographical distance could complicate the enforcement of his sentence if he were to re-offend. Additionally, the Crypto Open Patent Alliance (COPA) secured a reimbursement of legal costs totaling £145,000 ($181,500).
Appeal Plans
Despite the judgment, Wright has announced his intentions to appeal the rulings, maintaining his stance as Bitcoin’s creator despite the court’s previous ruling against this claim.
Background of the Case
The contempt proceedings were initiated by COPA after a High Court ruling in March debunked Wright’s claim as Satoshi Nakamoto and prohibited him from making such assertions. Wright continued to file lawsuits, including one demanding £911 billion in damages from Bitcoin Core and Square, alleging misrepresentation of Bitcoin as envisioned by Satoshi Nakamoto.
Instances of Contempt
COPA accused Wright of five instances of contempt, highlighting his reliance on false claims of intellectual property rights as Bitcoin’s creator to support his lawsuits. Legal counsel for COPA, Jonathan Hough, emphasized the severity of Wright’s actions, citing a history of contemptuous behavior across multiple continents over the past two decades.
Judgment and Consequences
Justice James Mellor found Wright guilty of violating court orders and described his actions as a flagrant breach. The judge instructed Wright to withdraw his legal claims against Square and Bitcoin developers, emphasizing the need for accountability in the legal system.
