[Exclusive] Two More Close Associates of 'Lime Core' Kim Young-hong Sent to Prosecution... Prosecution and Police Investigations Accelerate

'Avatar Casino' Department Head and Deputy General Manager Referred Without Detention
Remaining 33 Casino Affiliates to Be Referred Soon

Photo by Asia Economy DB

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] Two close aides of Kim Young-hong, chairman of Metropolitan and identified as the 'mastermind' behind the Lime Asset Management scandal involving a redemption suspension worth 1.6 trillion won, have been additionally sent to the prosecution. They operated illegal overseas casinos to secure funds for Kim's escape.

According to a comprehensive report from our investigation on the 16th, the Cyber Crime Investigation Unit of Gangwon Provincial Police Agency recently sent two individuals, Kim and Lee, to prosecution without detention on charges of operating gambling spaces. They were confirmed to be officials of the illegal 'Avatar Casino' located within Isla Resort in Cebu, Philippines, known as the source of Kim's escape funds, holding the titles of department head and deputy department head respectively.

Kim and Lee, direct subordinates of Jung, who was sentenced to two years in prison by the Seoul Southern District Court after being indicted on the same charges, voluntarily returned to Korea and were investigated before the authorities invalidated their passports. The prosecution, having received the investigation details from the police, is currently conducting further investigations on them.

Seok, the overall manager of the casino operations, is also undergoing trial at the Chuncheon District Court on the same charges. Through court battles concerning various issues such as the initial resort establishment process, the 2018 'resort shooting incident,' and illegal casino operations, the specific scale of profits and charges are gradually being revealed.

Additionally, the prosecution is reportedly deliberating on indictment while extending the detention period once for Choi, the 'Avatar Casino' mastermind who was arrested on the same charges on the 2nd. Choi is known as the person who effectively operated the recently reopened casino and is a shareholder of Mactan Isla Resort & Spa Corporation. Besides this case, he has been reported to the Gangnam Police Station in Seoul for aiding a criminal's escape and to the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office for evasion of compulsory execution. Choi was arrested after returning to Korea last month, evading police pursuit in the Philippines.

During the investigation, they reportedly testified regarding the connection between Kim, the actual owner, and the casino operations. The International Cooperation Division of the National Police Agency's Interpol is also planning to visit Chuncheon Detention Center, where Choi and others are held, to conduct interviews and investigations.

Furthermore, the police plan to send the remaining 33 associates of the 'Avatar Casino,' currently under investigation, to prosecution soon. Including those previously sent, the total number of individuals related to the casino identified by the police has reached 37.

Accordingly, the only remaining individual at the police investigation stage is Kim's relative, Kim, suspected of assisting his escape by delivering profits to Chairman Kim. The Gangnam Police Station in Seoul secured a recorded phone call between Chairman Kim and this relative, who returned at the end of May, was banned from leaving the country, and responded to summons for investigation.

As investigations by the prosecution and police on Kim's closest aides continue consecutively, the tracking of Chairman Kim's whereabouts is expected to accelerate. Kim, currently believed to be on the run in the Philippines, is reportedly maintaining contact with his associates only through Telegram and other means.