[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Seoyul] Three accomplices who helped former Star Mobility Chairman Kim Bong-hyun, the 'Lime scandal mastermind,' escape just before his sentencing trial have been indicted without detention by the prosecution.
On the 18th, the Criminal Division 6 of the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Lee Jundong) announced that defendants A (49), B (60), and C (37) were indicted without detention on charges of aiding a fugitive. A and B are former friends and acquaintances of former Chairman Kim, while C is a junior whom A met in society.
According to the prosecution, Kim, who is accused of embezzlement under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes, discussed detailed escape plans with A and B several days before fleeing on November 11 last year, promising various interests and cash, including private Toto and casino operations. A is charged with receiving a request from Kim the day before the escape to help him flee and having B assist in this.
B is accused of cutting off the electronic ankle bracelet near Paldang Bridge on the day of the escape, picking up Kim who was waiting, and transferring him twice by car to Hwaseong, Osan, and Dongtan. To confuse the pursuit, Kim had his nephew Kim (surname) falsely state that the drop-off location was near Yeouido.
C was indicted on charges of hiding Kim for two days at his home at A's request, then hiding Kim in an apartment in Dongtan New Town, Hwaseong City, Gyeonggi Province, which was short-term leased under C's name on November 12 last year, and providing him with a mobile phone and daily necessities under A's instructions. The apartment is in the same complex as C's residence. Kim reportedly moved alone to a new hiding place early the next day.
It is reported that about a month before his escape in October last year, Kim thought that if he received help from hometown friends like A, whom he met again after about ten years by chance, he would not be easily detected by investigative agencies. Three days before his escape, on November 8 last year, Kim filed a motion to disqualify the trial court, and the next day, November 9, he indicated to A and B that he might flee.
Unlike the method of fleeing for about five months around 2020, Kim continued a difficult-to-trace fugitive life by recruiting new people with no connection to his family or acquaintances. After his arrest, Kim reportedly stated, "I thought I would not be caught if I stayed hidden like this."
After investigations including securing CCTV footage of travel routes, communication records, and related parties' internet search histories, Kim Bong-hyun, who was hiding in the master bedroom dressing room of an apartment in Dongtan New Town, Hwaseong City, Gyeonggi Province, was arrested at 3:37 p.m. on December 29 last year, 48 days after his escape.
Kim was detained and indicted in May 2020 but was released on bail in July 2021, remaining out of custody. On the afternoon of November 11 last year, just before the sentencing trial, near Paldang Bridge in Hanam City, Gyeonggi Province, he cut off the electronic ankle bracelet he was wearing as a bail condition and fled.
After a postponement, at the sentencing trial held on the 16th under the presiding judge Lee Sangju of the Criminal Division 13 of the Seoul Southern District Court, the prosecution requested the court to sentence Kim to 40 years in prison, confiscate 77,435,400,000 KRW in fines, and seize his resident registration card.
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