SPC "Chairman Heo Young-in Withdraws for 4 Months... Prosecution Regrets Excessive Execution of Arrest Warrant"

3-Day Statement "No Intent to Avoid Prosecutor Investigation"
MOU on Italy Expansion, Due to Health Deterioration
Chairman Heo's Panic Attacks and Worsening Arrhythmia Symptoms
"Prosecutors Refused to Adjust Appearance Date, Denied Hospital Visit Request"

On the 3rd, SPC Group expressed regret over the prosecution's forced detention of Chairman Heo Young-in due to repeated refusals to appear, stating, "We regret the excessive execution of the arrest warrant." SPC stated that despite Chairman Heo's important management schedule, including the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) related to Paris Baguette's entry into Italy, and his deteriorating health condition, the prosecution did not accommodate adjustments to the appearance date.

Chairman Heo is currently under suspicion of coercing members of the Paris Baguette bakery workers' union, affiliated with the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), to withdraw from the union.

In a statement released on the 3rd, SPC said, "We regret that despite Chairman Heo being transferred to the emergency room due to health deterioration during the prosecution's investigation and the need for stabilization being explained, the prosecution still executed the excessive arrest warrant."

Chairman Hyungin Heo of SPC Group / Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

They continued, "Chairman Heo had no intention whatsoever to evade or delay the prosecution's investigation despite his worsened health condition, and his intention to cooperate sincerely with the investigation remained unchanged. However, the media was allowed to report unfiltered as if he was refusing to appear."

According to SPC, Chairman Heo has been under a travel ban for over four months. SPC claimed, "We requested the prosecution to conduct the investigation quickly and lift the travel ban, but the prosecution never demanded his appearance until now. The first appearance request came just before a difficult-to-arrange agreement ceremony in Korea, as overseas business activities became impossible."

They added, "Chairman Heo attended and completed an important event for the group's market expansion in Italy and appeared for the investigation on March 25."

Chairman Heo received a summons from the prosecution on the 18th of last month but did not appear, citing the MOU with Pascucci, a partner company for Paris Baguette's entry into Italy. Subsequently, the prosecution requested his appearance on the 19th and 21st of last month, but he also refused. Later, Chairman Heo appeared for the investigation on the 25th of last month. However, he was transferred to the emergency room after only an hour of the investigation, and although the prosecution requested his appearance again on the 29th, Chairman Heo did not comply due to worsening health and was arrested on the 2nd.

SPC stated, "Despite his health issues, Chairman Heo submitted a request for an on-site investigation at the hospital where he is currently admitted, believing that the prosecution's summons should be respected as much as possible, but this was rejected by the prosecution," adding, "Chairman Heo received a medical opinion from his attending specialist that there is a high possibility of worsening panic attacks and arrhythmia symptoms, requiring two weeks of rest and treatment."

SPC concluded, "Nevertheless, there is no change in his position to sincerely cooperate with future prosecution investigations."