Special Investigation Headquarters imposes travel ban on Hamilton Hotel CEO over illegal building extension allegations

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Gong Byung-sun] The Special Investigation Headquarters (Special Investigation Unit) of the National Police Agency, which is investigating the Itaewon disaster, has imposed a travel ban on the CEO of Hamilton Hotel, who is suspected of exacerbating the disaster damage by illegally expanding the building.

On the 10th, the Special Investigation Unit announced that it had imposed a travel ban on Mr. A, the CEO of Hamilton Hotel, who is suspected of violating the Building Act and Road Act.

Mr. A is suspected of constructing illegal buildings on the rear of the 2nd floor of the Hamilton Hotel main building, the 1st floor of the annex, and the west side of the main building, occupying the surrounding roads without permission. Hamilton Hotel was found to have a total of seven unauthorized expansions: three in the main building and four in the annex.

The Special Investigation Unit deployed 14 investigators from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. the previous day to conduct a search and seizure of Hamilton Hotel and Mr. A’s residence. It is reported that they secured Mr. A’s mobile phone and building design plans through this operation.

The alley where the Itaewon disaster occurred on the 29th of last month is only 3.2 meters wide. There have been criticisms that the illegal expansion of Hamilton Hotel further narrowed the space, increasing the damage from the disaster.

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