Kim Bong-hyeon, former president of Star Mobility, considered a key figure in the Lime Asset Management incident, fled with the electronic device disconnected before the trial on the afternoon of the 11th. Provided by the Supreme Prosecutor’s Office
Kim Bong-hyeon (48), former chairman of Star Mobility, key figure in the Lime Asset Management case, where the buyback of 1.6 trillion won was suspended, cut off the electronic device and fled before the trial scheduled for 11 . Prosecutors recently attempted to secure his new recruits three times, including requesting an arrest warrant, but all failed. The court made a belated decision to cancel Kim’s bail.
On that day, the Seoul South District Prosecutor’s Office ordered the wanted man for former President Kim, who fled, and asked police across the country to cooperate with the solicitation. At around 1:30 pm the previous day, former President Kim cut off the electronic device and fled near the Paldang Bridge in Hanam-si, Gyeonggi-do.
Former President Kim was arrested on suspicion of stealing tens of billions of won from Suwon and Star Mobility passengers and providing money and entertainment to politicians and prosecutors, but was released on bail in July. last year. The conditions were a deposit of 300 million won, housing restrictions and electronic devices to prevent escape. At 3pm the same day, former President Kim was scheduled for a decision hearing at the Southern District Court.
Prosecutors have determined that Kim, who was tried without detention, is more likely to escape as the sentencing date approaches. On September 14, the prosecution requested an arrest warrant for former President Kim on fraud charges worth 9.1 billion won in relation to unlisted securities. On the 20th of the same month, a search warrant was also carried out for fear of running away when the suspect did not appear for questioning (substantive examination of the warrant) before arrest.
However, on the same day, the court conducted a substantive review of Kim’s warrant and rejected the arrest warrant.
At the time, the court said: “The allegations appear to be serious and have been claimed to a considerable extent, but it is not easy to see that there is a risk of destroying the evidence.”
Prosecutors then obtained statements from those who had been incarcerated with former President Kim preparing to sneak into China. Prosecutors believed Kim was very likely to try to escape and again requested an arrest warrant on the 7th of last month, reinforcing the reasons for the arrest related to preparations for smuggling.
However, the request for a second arrest warrant was also rejected. The court rejected the warrant on the 12th of last month, saying, “The purpose of the bail decision must be respected.”
Good news
The prosecution, which twice failed to get new recruits, asked the court on 26 last month to overturn the bail decision.
At the trial held two days later, the prosecution said: “We must cancel the bail and prevent the culprit from escaping the Lime case, which caused serious social damage.
On 21 last month, the prosecution also requested a communication warrant for a telephone cannon, believed to have been used by former President Kim to prepare for smuggling, but on the same day the court rejected the warrant because it lacked necessity and relevance.
As a result, former President Kim fled about an hour and a half before decision making that day.
The court accepted the request to cancel the bail after the fact of the escape was announced that day, but it was after Kim had already disappeared.
Former President Kim is accused of stealing about 9 billion won from 350 people from 2017 to 2018, saying, “If I invest in unlisted shares, I will guarantee the capital and the return.” Former President Kim was arrested and indicted in May 2020 on charges of stealing tens of billions of won from Suwon Passenger and Star Mobility and providing money and entertainment to politicians and prosecutors. After that, he was released on bail in July last year and was tried without detention.
