'O Jaewon Sent to Detention on Drug Use Charges... Silent in Response to Questions'

Former national baseball player Oh Jae-won, who is accused of drug use, has been handed over to the prosecution.

Former professional baseball player and national team member Oh Jae-won, who was arrested on charges including violation of the Narcotics Control Act, is being transferred to the prosecution from Gangnam Police Station in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 29th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

At around 8:06 a.m. on the 29th, Oh, who came out of the Seoul Gangnam Police Station for prosecution transfer, got into the escort vehicle without answering reporters' questions such as "Since when have you been using drugs?", "Did you use drugs during your active career?", and "Is it true that you asked fellow players for proxy prescriptions?"

A Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency official stated at a regular press briefing on the 25th, "(Oh) generally admits to the charges, but we will prepare for prosecution after conducting additional supplementary investigations." The police are also investigating suspicions that Oh obtained sleeping pills through proxy prescriptions via parents or students of a baseball academy. It is reported that Oh was investigated by the police last year after a report was filed when he tried to receive sleeping pills prescribed by proxy from a delivery person.

On the afternoon of the 22nd, Judge Kim Mi-kyung, head of the warrant division at the Seoul Central District Court, held a pre-arrest detention hearing for Oh, who is accused of violating the Narcotics Control Act (psychotropic substances), and issued an arrest warrant citing "risk of flight." Oh arrived at the court at 3:52 p.m. on the 21st and did not respond to questions such as "Since when have you been using narcotics?", "Did you use them during your playing days?", "Is it true that you bleached and removed hair to hide evidence?", and "Did you receive proxy prescriptions for sleeping pills?"

Oh was arrested by the police on the 19th on charges of using narcotics and receiving proxy prescriptions for psychotropic drugs. Earlier, on the 10th, Oh was investigated for drug charges following a report by a woman who was with him, but he strongly denied the allegations. At that time, the police released Oh after a rapid drug test came back negative. Subsequently, after confirming additional evidence of Oh's drug use, the police secured custody and applied for an arrest warrant.