Suspicion of Swapping Phone SIM Cards with Nephew Detected
High Possibility of Illegal Immigration, Full Effort on Public Manhunt and Arrest
Kim Bong-hyun, former chairman of Star Mobility, who is wanted nationwide. Photo by Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office
[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] The prosecution, pursuing former Star Mobility chairman Kim Bong-hyun, who cut off his electronic monitoring device (electronic bracelet) and fled, is putting all efforts into the investigation, including forensic analysis of the mobile phone of Kim’s nephew, who is suspected of aiding his escape.
On the 13th, the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office announced that it had seized a mobile phone and a vehicle black box from the home of Kim’s nephew, Mr. A, in Seoul the previous day to verify the details and route of the escape.
The prosecution believes that Mr. A assisted Kim’s escape using his own vehicle. However, under the Criminal Act (special provisions for relatives), which prohibits punishment for harboring a relative who has fled, Mr. A was not arrested.
It is also reported that the prosecution detected circumstances in which Kim switched SIM cards with Mr. A during the escape.
The prosecution is fully committed to capturing Kim, who is considered highly likely to attempt illegal departure, by distributing his facial photos and issuing a public warrant. They are also not ruling out the possibility that he contacted illegal immigration brokers through social networking service (SNS) messengers.
Kim Bong-hyun, former chairman of Star Mobility, who is wanted nationwide. Photo by Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office
Kim, a key figure in the Lime Asset Management scandal, cut off the electronic bracelet he was wearing under bail conditions and fled near Paldang Bridge in Hanam City, Gyeonggi Province, at around 1:30 p.m. on the 11th.
He was arrested and indicted on charges including embezzling hundreds of billions of won from Suwon Passenger Transport and Star Mobility funds and providing money and entertainment to political circles and prosecutors, but was released on bail in July last year and has been on trial without detention.
The escape occurred about an hour and a half before the sentencing hearing for the case was scheduled to begin.
The prosecution recently anticipated a heavy sentence for Kim in this trial and detected signs that he was preparing for illegal departure to China, deeming it necessary to secure his custody. Accordingly, they requested the court to revoke his bail on the 26th of last month.
The Seoul Southern District Court belatedly accepted the prosecution’s bail revocation request at around 2:50 p.m., after Kim had already fled. The sentencing hearing was postponed to the 6th of next month.
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