Former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao asked for parts of his travel request to be made private on Dec. 27.
Though Zhao has sought permission to travel outside the U.S. for some time, the latest filings provide more context around his plans.
The first court filing indicates that Zhao and his defense team have moved to seal various filings regarding his plans to travel outside of the U.S. In an attempt to justify the sealing request, the filing notes that some documents contain private and sensitive medical information about one of Zhao’s children.
The second document is a proposed order through which Judge Richard Jones, the judge presiding over the case, could grant Zhao’s request to seal the relevant information. It is unclear whether the request has been approved, as the public version of the order form has not been signed by the judge.
CZ case began in November
Zhao was initially charged on Nov. 21 over his failure to maintain an effective anti-money laundering (AML) program at Binance. Zhao reached a plea deal with prosecutors, agreed to a fine, and resigned as Binance’s CEO at that time.
Zhao was granted bail in advance of his sentencing. However, prosecutors quickly identified Zhao as a flight risk and moved to prevent him from leaving the U.S. Later, on Dec. 7, Judge Jones issued a ruling in agreement with government prosecutors that barred Zhao from exiting the United States.
CNBC suggested in November that Zhao intends to return to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to take care of his three children and partner. If Zhao travels to the UAE, the U.S. government may not be able to ensure that Zhao returns due to a lack of an extradition treaty with the UAE and due to Zhao’s wealth.
Under the current schedule, Zhao will be sentenced on Feb. 23, 2024. He faces a maximum prison sentence of 18 months, according to the CNBC report.
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