'Behind the Lime Incident' Kim Young-hong, Metropolitan Chairman's Close Associate Faces Arrest Decision

Pretrial Detention Hearing Today
Suspect Appears for Warrant Review Amid Media Avoidance

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don, Trainee Reporter Kim Young-won] Jeong, a close aide of Metropolitan Chairman Kim Young-hong, who is considered the mastermind behind the 'Lime Scandal,' is facing detention.

At 10:30 a.m. on the 25th, Judge Lim Hae-ji, in charge of warrants at the Seoul Southern District Court, held a pre-arrest suspect interrogation (warrant substantive examination) for Jeong, who is accused of operating a gambling house, violating the Foreign Exchange Transactions Act, and violating the Act on the Regulation and Punishment of Criminal Proceeds Concealment.

Jeong, who was arrested that day, appeared for the warrant substantive examination through a court entrance without reporters present.

Jeong, who was arrested locally in the Philippines on the 8th of this month and repatriated to Korea on the 22nd, is accused of operating a remote gambling site in the Philippines and earning profits worth about 70 billion KRW. He is also suspected of providing overseas escape funds by distributing profits to Chairman Kim, the actual owner of the casino.

Metropolitan, a real estate development company, received an investment of 300 billion KRW from Lime, but Chairman Kim is reported to have embezzled a significant portion. Former Star Mobility Chairman Kim Bong-hyun also claimed that Chairman Kim and others were the 'core' of the Lime scandal.

If Jeong is detained, the investigation related to the 'Lime mastermind' allegations, who is currently on the run overseas, is expected to accelerate. Metropolitan Chairman Kim has been reported along with Jeong for illegal online casino operation charges, and it is highly likely that Jeong knows Chairman Kim's whereabouts. Chairman Kim, who is also the chairman of Isla Resort, is currently on the run overseas and is subject to an Interpol red notice.