O Jaewon 'Proxy Prescription of Medicine' Suspicions Increase to 13 Current and Former Baseball Players

Regarding the case of former national baseball player Oh Jae-won (39, in custody) who was prosecuted on drug use charges, the number of baseball players reportedly forced by Oh to obtain prescriptions on his behalf has increased to 13.

Former professional baseball player and national team member Oh Jae-won, who is accused of violating the Narcotics Control Act and other charges, is attending a pre-arrest detention hearing (warrant review).
[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 7th, Jo Ji-ho, Commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, stated at a press conference, "In addition to the 8 players whose names were confirmed internally by the Doosan Bears and reported to the police, we need to verify about 5 more current and former professional baseball players, bringing the total to 13 under investigation."

Last month, the Doosan Bears, the team Oh was affiliated with, reported to the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) that 8 of its players had obtained sleeping pills through proxy prescriptions for Oh.

Oh was arrested and indicted on the 17th of last month on charges of violating the Narcotics Control Act (psychotropic substances) and the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (retaliatory threats, etc.). Notably, during the investigation, suspicions arose that he involved junior baseball players in obtaining sleeping pills through proxy prescriptions.

All 13 current and former professional baseball players involved have been booked by the police. They are mainly known to belong to the second-tier teams. Commissioner Jo said, "If they were forced to do (proxy prescriptions) under duress, it will be taken into consideration in the final judgment."