Two Close Associates Who Helped Former Chairman Kim Bong-hyun Escape Detained and Indicted

[Asia Economy Reporter Gong Byung-sun] Two close associates who helped former Star Mobility Chairman Kim Bong-hyun, identified as the main culprit in the Lime scandal, escape have been detained and brought to trial.

On the 8th, the Criminal Division 6 of the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Lee Jun-dong) announced that on the 6th, they had arrested and indicted entertainment agency official Mr. A and Kim’s older sister’s boyfriend Mr. B on charges of aiding a fugitive.

Mr. A is also facing charges of violating the Telecommunications Business Act. He is known to have provided a burner phone to former Chairman Kim, who was released on bail in July last year. In December 2019, Mr. A also hid Kim, who fled before a pre-arrest warrant hearing, at a hotel located in Gangnam, Seoul.

The pre-arrest warrant hearing for Kim’s nephew, Mr. Kim, originally scheduled for the morning, was postponed to 2:30 p.m. at the request of the defense counsel. Mr. Kim, who helped former Chairman Kim, had an arrest warrant requested on charges of damaging public property. Since aiding a relative’s escape cannot be punished under the Criminal Act as aiding a fugitive, the prosecution views Mr. Kim as an accomplice who damaged former Chairman Kim’s electronic device.