Craig Wright faced a decisive blow in the courtroom today as the UK High Court delved into sanctions and an injunction in his case against the Crypto Open Patent Alliance (COPA). The proceedings, detailed in What The Finance on X live updates, saw Jonathan Hough KC present a comprehensive case for strict action against Wright, highlighting the damage caused by his fraudulent claims and lawsuits against prominent figures in the crypto community.
Jonathan Hough KC highlighted the significant chilling effect Wright’s actions had on cryptocurrency development, noting that five developers had distanced themselves from the projects due to Wright’s aggressive legal strategies. He stressed that a major injunction was needed to prevent Wright from maintaining his claim to be Satoshi Nakamoto and to ensure the integrity of the crypto-ecosystem.
Hough detailed Wright’s prosecution of individuals such as Hodlonaut and Peter McCormack, portraying Wright’s actions as vindictive attempts to destroy the lives of those who questioned his legitimacy. What The Finance reported that the judge appeared sympathetic to these arguments, with Hough stressing the need for injunctions to prevent Wright from further spreading his false claims and litigating on the basis of his fraudulent claims.
In a nearly full courtroom, with a notable absence from Wright’s team, including Wright himself, who is “traveling,” Hough went through legal precedents and made a compelling case for a strong injunction. This included preventing Wright from claiming to be Satoshi Nakamoto in any public forum and ordering the removal of such claims from the Internet. Judge Mellor signaled a willingness to issue an extraordinary response and hinted at the possibility of severe penalties, including prison terms.
Under the Perjury Act 1911, the maximum sentence in the UK is seven years and a fine.
“If any person lawfully sworn as a witness or as an interpreter in a legal proceeding willfully makes in that proceeding a material statement which he knows to be false or which he believes to be false, he shall be guilty of perjury, and upon conviction shall on indictment to imprisonment for a term not exceeding seven years, or to imprisonment with or without hard labor for a term not exceeding two years, or to a fine, or to both, or to imprisonment and a fine. “
In the UK, perjury is an indictable offence, meaning it must be tried in the Crown Court, which usually involves a trial by jury. If convicted of perjury, Craig Wright would have to undergo a new jury trial. This is because perjury is considered a serious offense that undermines the administration of justice and the legal process requires a thorough examination of evidence and testimony, which is best done in a crown court setting with a jury.
The proceedings also allegedly touched on Wright’s failure to provide an address for legal services, suggesting attempts to avoid responsibility. Hough called for the prosecution of Wright and his associate Stephan Matthews for making false statements, supported by a video of Wright discussing the penalties for perjury.
Co The Finance reported that Wright’s legal team tried to argue against the relief sought by COPA, arguing that it was unnecessary and unprecedented. However, the judge’s stance suggested that Wright’s long-running fraud campaign warranted a strong judicial response, which could mark a significant point in the ongoing saga surrounding the true identity of Bitcoin’s creator.