'Rhyme Master' Kim Bong-hyun's Escape Aided by Woman... Arrest Warrant Rejected by Court

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] It was confirmed on the 27th that the court dismissed the case against a woman in her 30s accused of aiding the escape of Kim Bong-hyun, former chairman of Star Mobility and a key figure in the Lime Asset Management scandal.

The Criminal Division 6 of the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Lee Jun-dong) announced that they had urgently arrested the woman, identified as Ms. A, on the 23rd on charges of harboring a criminal and applied for an arrest warrant, but the court dismissed it on the 25th. During the pre-arrest suspect interrogation (warrant review), Judge Kwon Ki-man, in charge of warrants at the Seoul Southern District Court, reportedly dismissed the warrant on the grounds that "the necessary evidence has already been collected."

Ms. A is suspected of connecting Kim’s older sister by phone after Kim cut off his electronic ankle bracelet and went into hiding on the 11th. Kim’s older sister is currently staying in the United States, and it is suspected that Ms. A assisted Kim’s escape. Previously, the prosecution had arrested other associates who helped Kim flee. Considering that Kim has been in constant contact with Ms. A and other associates, the prosecution is focusing on the possibility that Kim remained in the country rather than fleeing overseas and is pursuing his whereabouts accordingly.