Suspect in 4.5 Billion Coin Scam Escapes During Hospital Examination

Police Switch to Public Wanted Notice on 18th... Up to 5 Million Won Reward for Capture
Woman with Suspended Arrest Order in Busan Last March Disappears While Hospitalized
Criticism Arises Over Police's Poor Suspect Management

Public Wanted Notice for Park Sang-wan. Photo by Osan Police Station, Gyeonggi Province

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] The Osan Police Station in Gyeonggi Province issued a public arrest warrant on the 18th for Park Sangwan (29), a suspect who was arrested on charges of investment fraud but escaped while undergoing examination at a hospital.

Park is accused of posting online from May to September claims guaranteeing high returns through coin investments to recruit investors, then embezzling approximately 4.5 billion KRW from 52 people. After arresting six accomplices, the police apprehended Park at an undisclosed location in Seoul at 5:45 p.m. on the 16th. However, on the morning of the 17th, while detained in the holding cell, he complained of chest pain near his ribs and was taken to a hospital in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Later, Park entered the MRI examination room after having his handcuffs removed for the scan, suddenly ran out, evaded two investigators waiting outside, and fled in a passenger car parked in front of the hospital.

The police initially took Park to Ajou University Hospital in Suwon, near Osan Police Station, but due to scheduling conflicts, he was transferred to a hospital in Seocho-gu where he had previously received treatment. While tracking Park, the police also plan to investigate whether officers failed to follow suspect management protocols during the escape.

Park is 181 cm tall with a sturdy build and was wearing a black tracksuit top and bottom at the time of his escape. The police have offered a reward of up to 5 million KRW for decisive information leading to his capture. Tips or reports can be made by calling 112 without an area code or contacting the Osan Police Station Cyber Crime Investigation Team.

There was a similar case in Busan last March where a criminal escaped during hospital treatment. A woman in her 50s, who was serving a seven-year prison sentence at Busan Detention Center for fraud involving tens of billions of won, was hospitalized at a university hospital after complaining of an eye condition and was granted temporary release on the condition of returning after four days. She disappeared during treatment but was found two months later in an apartment in Busanjin-gu. Victims had feared she might have fled abroad before her capture. In August, she was sentenced to 10 years in prison in the appellate court, 1 year and 6 months longer than the recommended maximum sentence.

Additionally, on September 15, a suspect of a sexual crime escaped from the Yeosu Police Station parking lot in Jeollanam-do by loosening loosely fastened handcuffs during a moment of lax surveillance but was recaptured the next day. In July, a wanted fugitive who had been brought to a police substation in Gwangju also escaped but was caught after seven hours, leading to criticism of the police’s inadequate suspect management.

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