'Choi Se-won Accused of Embezzlement and Breach of Trust Involving 220 Billion Won, Released Due to Detention Limit'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] Choi Sun-won, chairman of SK Networks, who is accused of embezzlement and breach of trust amounting to about 220 billion won, has been released after the expiration of his detention period.

According to the legal community on the 7th, Chairman Choi was indicted in custody last March and was released from Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang-si, Gyeonggi Province on the 4th after more than six months. Going forward, Chairman Choi will stand trial without detention until the first trial verdict. Under the Criminal Procedure Act, the maximum detention period for a defendant at each trial level is six months.

Initially, the 23rd Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Yoo Young-geun), which was handling Chairman Choi’s case, stated, "Because this is a detention case, it was classified as a major case requiring immediate processing," and "The court’s objective is to handle the case within the detention period." However, after Chairman Cho Dae-sik, chairman of SK Supex Council, and others were indicted and the cases were consolidated with Chairman Choi’s case, the detention period was exceeded.

Previously, Chairman Choi was brought to trial on charges of embezzling and breaching trust of approximately 223.5 billion won from six affiliates including SK Networks, SKC, and SK Telesys, under the pretexts of pursuing a personal golf course business, paying false salaries to family members, paying for personal capital increase, and supporting funds for insolvent affiliates.

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