Arrest Warrant for Kim Bong-hyun's Nephew and Detention Warrant for His Biological Sister
Investigation Halted for Kim Young-hong's Associate... Allegations of Favoritism Also Arise
[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] The prosecution has decided to conduct a detention investigation into the nephew of former Star Mobility Chairman Kim Bong-hyun, who has been missing for nearly a month. Meanwhile, the police investigation into Metropolitan Chairman Kim Young-hong, who is also on the run, remains at a standstill.
The Criminal Division 6 of the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Lee Jun-dong) has requested an arrest warrant for Mr. A on charges of damaging public property. On the 5th, the prosecution arrested Mr. A, questioned him about former Chairman Kim’s whereabouts before and after his escape, and judged that a detention investigation was necessary. The pre-arrest suspect interrogation (warrant hearing) for Mr. A is scheduled to be held at 10:30 a.m. on the 8th at the Seoul Southern District Court, presided over by Chief Judge Kwon Ki-man, who is in charge of warrants.
Mr. A is considered a key aide to former Chairman Kim, appearing together in closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage on the day of the escape. Taking into account the Criminal Act provision that exempts punishment for aiding a relative’s escape under the crime of harboring a criminal, the prosecution views Mr. A as an accomplice in the destruction of the electronic tracking device (electronic bracelet) worn by former Chairman Kim.
Earlier, the Seoul Probation Office of the Ministry of Justice requested a police investigation on charges of damaging public property after former Chairman Kim cut off the electronic bracelet attached as a condition of bail. This consideration was made because, unlike violent offenders such as sex offenders, murderers, robbers, and kidnappers released on bail, there is no clear punishment clause for cutting off the electronic device.
The prosecution had previously obtained an arrest warrant for Kim’s older sister, Ms. Kim (51, residing in the United States), on charges of aiding a criminal’s escape, and requested the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to invalidate her passport. The prosecution expects that once Ms. Kim returns to Korea, they can execute the arrest warrant and secure clues to track former Chairman Kim’s whereabouts. Accordingly, the intention was to invalidate the passport of Ms. Kim, who is known to have been residing long-term in the U.S., working at hospitals and attempting to acquire citizenship, to block her citizenship review and pressure her to choose to return.
In contrast to the prosecution’s intense pressure investigation on former Chairman Kim’s family, the police investigation into Metropolitan Chairman Kim Young-hong has effectively been halted. The Gangnam Police Station in Seoul suspended investigations last October into nine individuals, including Chairman Kim, his close aide CEO Jung, Director Choi, Head Kim, and Chairman Kim’s cousin Mr. Kim, who were suspected of aiding and harboring a criminal. The suspension was solely due to the inability to locate Chairman Kim.
As a result, investigations related to Chairman Kim have been indefinitely extended. In particular, although the statute of limitations has been suspended for Chairman Kim and Head Kim, who are confirmed to be abroad, the other suspects are not, raising concerns that the police investigation may yield no results.
In this situation, the complainants who requested the investigation into Chairman Kim and others have raised suspicions of police leniency. The complainants pointed out, “While an arrest warrant was issued for the family of former Chairman Kim Bong-hyun, who merely connected a three-way call, the investigation intensity has been heightened, yet the investigation related to Chairman Kim Young-hong has made no progress and was even suspended without clear reasons.” They criticized, “It is hard to dismiss the suspicion that a biased leniency investigation is being conducted only for Chairman Kim Young-hong.”
It has been confirmed that the complainants submitted an objection to the suspension decision regarding Chairman Kim Young-hong and others to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency on the 28th of last month. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, which received the objection, is reportedly reviewing whether to reinvestigate or conduct a direct investigation.
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