[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] A warrant for the detention of an executive of an investment advisory firm suspected of involvement in the creation of the so-called 'Kim Geonhee File' in the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation case has been issued.
On the 1st, Judge Kim Seyong, in charge of warrants at the Seoul Central District Court, conducted a pre-arrest interrogation (warrant substantive examination) of investment advisory firm executive A (52) and issued the warrant requested by the prosecution, citing "risk of evidence destruction and flight."
A is accused of conspiring with Chairman Kwon Osu of Deutsche Motors and others to artificially inflate Deutsche Motors' stock price through market manipulation from December 2009 to December 2012, violating the Capital Markets Act. Chairman Kwon was previously indicted on the same charges on December 3 last year. This case has attracted public attention due to allegations that Kim Geonhee, spouse of President Yoon Seokyeol, is involved.
A is particularly suspected of being involved in creating an Excel file named 'Kim Geonhee.' This file reportedly contains details such as the number of Deutsche Motors shares traded under Kim's name on January 13, 2011. The file was disclosed by the prosecution during a trial on August 26. The prosecution secured this file from A's company office computer in September last year. During the prosecution's investigation last year, A suddenly left for the United States and was placed on Interpol's red notice. After the prosecution pressured him by invalidating his passport, he returned on the 29th of last month. The prosecution arrested A at Incheon International Airport.
With A in custody, the prosecution plans to question him about the circumstances under which he created the file under Kim's name and whether Kim was involved in the stock manipulation. According to political and legal circles, the statute of limitations for the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation case is set to expire on the 7th. This has drawn attention to whether the prosecution will accelerate its investigation in the coming week.
A's statements during the prosecution's investigation and trial are crucial. On the 2nd, A is scheduled to appear as a witness and be questioned at the trial of Chairman Kwon and others, presided over by Judge Jo Byunggu of the 23rd Criminal Division at the Seoul Central District Court.
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