'Arrest Warrant Denied for Seoul National University Professor Lee Byung-cheon on Allegations of Admission Fraud and Research Fund Misappropriation'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] The arrest warrant for Lee Byung-cheon (55), a professor at Seoul National University College of Veterinary Medicine, who is accused of admission fraud involving his son and nephew, has been dismissed.

On the 28th, Kim Dong-hyun, the chief judge in charge of warrants at the Seoul Central District Court, held a pre-arrest suspect interrogation (warrant substantive examination) for Professor Lee and dismissed the arrest warrant, stating, "There can be various evaluations regarding the extent of substantial legal interest infringement caused by each alleged fact, and it is difficult to definitively conclude that there is a concern of evidence destruction beyond the exercise of the right to defense."

The Criminal Division 7 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Byun Pil-geon) requested an arrest warrant for Professor Lee on the 24th on charges including ▲obstruction of official duties by deception ▲obstruction of business ▲fraud ▲violation of the Animal Protection Act.

Professor Lee is accused of fraudulently listing his high school son as a co-author of a paper in 2012 and using it for transfer admission to Kangwon National University, and of improperly intervening by providing exam questions during his nephew's admission process to the graduate school of Seoul National University College of Veterinary Medicine. In addition, he is accused of improperly managing accounts while purchasing experimental dogs with research funds, and of abusing 'May,' a cloned beagle of a retired quarantine detection dog, for experimental purposes.

The Seoul National University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation conducted an internal audit from August to December last year, and due to suspicions of improper research fund payments, suspended Professor Lee from his position and referred him to the disciplinary committee.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.