[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Min-young] The police special investigation headquarters (Special Investigation Headquarters) will summon Lee Mo (75), CEO of Hamilton Hotel, next week for the first time on suspicion of illegally expanding the hotel next to the alley where the disaster occurred, which increased casualties.
According to the police on the 27th, the Special Investigation Headquarters is coordinating a schedule to observe the forensic work on Lee's mobile phone with Lee's side next week. After observing the forensic work, Lee is expected to be summoned as a suspect on the same day or shortly thereafter. On the 9th of this month, the Special Investigation Headquarters conducted a search and seizure of Hamilton Hotel in Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, and Lee's residence, securing materials related to hotel operations and permits.
Lee is suspected of building illegal structures around the main building of Hamilton Hotel and occupying the road without permission (violations of the Building Act and Road Act). On the west side of the main building, adjacent to the alley where the crush accident occurred, a steel partition wall covering the outdoor air conditioner unit was installed about 10 years ago. The pub on the north side of the main building illegally expanded its terrace (17.4㎡) and operated for about 10 years.
Despite the Yongsan District Office's notice to demolish the illegal structures, Hamilton Hotel resisted by paying only more than 500 million won in enforcement fines since 2014.
Based on the 3D simulation results reconstructing the scene of the disaster, received from the National Forensic Service on the 24th, the Special Investigation Headquarters plans to focus on questioning Lee about the causal relationship between the illegally expanded building and the disaster.
There is also a possibility that the relationship with administrative agencies and officials such as the Yongsan District Office during the process of maintaining the illegal structures will be examined.
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