'Welcome to Video Crime Proceeds Concealment' Son Jung-woo Arrest Warrant Dismissed... "No Risk of Evidence Tampering or Flight"

Son Jung-woo, the operator of the world's largest child sexual exploitation site "Welcome to Video," is leaving the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu on the morning of the 9th after completing the pre-arrest detention hearing (warrant review) on charges including violation of the Act on the Regulation and Punishment of Criminal Proceeds Concealment.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] The arrest warrant for Son Jeong-woo (25), who is accused of operating the world's largest child sexual exploitation dark web site 'Welcome to Video (W2V)' and concealing criminal proceeds, has been dismissed.

On the 9th, Won Jeong-sook, the chief judge in charge of warrants at the Seoul Central District Court, held a pre-arrest suspect interrogation (warrant review) for Son and dismissed the arrest warrant, stating, "He generally admits the main charges, and basic evidence has been collected, so there is little concern that evidence will be destroyed."

Judge Won also mentioned, "Considering that the suspect has been under investigation without detention and appeared at the hearing for this case, making it difficult to see a risk of flight, that he has a fixed residence, and that all related fines have been paid, it is difficult to recognize the necessity and reasonableness of detention at this stage."

The Cyber Investigation Division of the National Police Agency applied for an arrest warrant for Son on the 4th on charges of violating the Act on the Regulation of Concealment of Criminal Proceeds. This investigation began when Son's father filed a complaint with the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in May this year to prevent his son's extradition to the United States. At that time, Son's father claimed that the prosecution did not indict Son despite investigating him for concealing criminal proceeds while investigating him for charges such as producing and distributing obscene materials.

Son, who was once again at risk of detention four months after his release, avoided a third arrest. Son was first arrested by the police in 2018 through international cooperation investigations and was detained after a pre-arrest warrant was issued.

He was then sentenced to two years in prison with a three-year probation in the first trial and released, but was sentenced to one year and six months in prison in the second trial and was detained in court. He did not appeal to the Supreme Court, so his sentence was finalized in May last year, and his sentence expired on April 27 this year. However, he was not released because the U.S. Department of Justice requested extradition, and he underwent extradition review. He was released after the Seoul High Court ruled against extradition in July.

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