Slava Voynov returns to Russia

Los Angeles: Slava Voynov left US Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody and returned to Russia over the weekend, in what might signal the end of the saga surrounding the Los Angeles Kings defenceman.

A US immigration judge granted Voynov voluntary departure last week, an ICE spokeswoman said.

The agency took Voynov into custody on September 2. He had previously served almost two months at the Seal Beach Police Detention Center after his no contest plea in July to a misdemeanour domestic violence charge stemming from an altercation with his wife.

After Voynov remained in custody at an unspecified ICE detention facility and faced lengthy deportation proceedings, the 25-year-old announced last week that he would return to his native Russia.

The Kings planned to terminate Voynov’s $25 million (Dh91.95 million) contract, but his decision to leave made the move unnecessary.