Additional Investigation Expected into Possible Concealment of Criminal Proceeds and Related Matters
Son Jung-woo, the operator of the world's largest child sexual exploitation site 'Welcome to Video,' was released on the afternoon of the 6th after the court's decision not to extradite him to the United States, leaving Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] The police are launching a full-scale reinvestigation into the charges of concealment of criminal proceeds related to Son Jeong-woo (24), the operator of the dark web child sexual exploitation site "Welcome to Video (W2V)," who avoided extradition to the United States.
According to the police on the 14th, the Cyber Investigation Division of the National Police Agency, which is investigating this case, plans to summon Son's father (54) on the 17th of this month as a complainant and accuser for questioning.
Earlier, when Son faced the risk of extradition to the U.S., his father filed a complaint and accusation against his son on May 11 at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office for violations of the Act on the Regulation of Concealment of Criminal Proceeds, forgery of private documents, and use of forged private documents.
Son's father claims that when the prosecution previously investigated Son for charges including production and distribution of obscene materials, they did not investigate or indict him for concealment of criminal proceeds. He also requested an investigation into the fact that Son paid his grandmother's hospital bills with criminal proceeds, which allegedly damaged her honor.
The prosecution directed the police to investigate this case, and the police received investigation records and related materials on the 10th of this month. A police official stated, "Since the original case investigation was conducted by the National Police Agency headquarters, we consulted with the prosecution and received the case transfer," adding, "We will conduct a strict investigation."
However, it is known that the 400 million KRW of criminal proceeds identified after Son's arrest have all been recovered. Accordingly, the police are expected to examine whether Son has concealed any additional criminal proceeds.
The Cyber Investigation Division of the National Police Agency arrested Son in 2018 through international cooperation investigations, and the prosecution detained and indicted him. Son was sentenced to 1 year and 6 months in prison, served his sentence, and was released on April 27 of this year.
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