On the 11th Day of Disappearance... Prosecution Conducts Search and Seizure of Suspects Suspected of Assisting Kim Bong-hyun's Escape

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] As it has been 11 days since Kim Bong-hyun, the former chairman of Star Mobility and a key figure in the Lime Asset Management scandal, went missing, the prosecution is reportedly conducting a forced investigation into a person suspected of assisting his escape.

The Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office reportedly searched the residence of entertainment agency official Mr. A on the 17th and seized Mr. A's mobile phone and other items.

Mr. A is suspected of having booked a hotel room in Gangnam, Seoul, where Kim was hiding for a month when he was arrested by the police in April 2020 at a villa in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, after fleeing just before his detention hearing in December 2019.

The prosecution is investigating with the possibility that Mr. A again helped Kim Bong-hyun escape.

Meanwhile, the prosecution believes it is more likely that Kim remains in the country rather than having fled to China illegally. They have identified several vehicles suspected to have been used by Kim during his escape and checked them through the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Wanted Auto Search System (WASS).

They also conducted inquiries at a residential complex in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, suspected to have been frequented by Kim's vehicle.

Kim was with his nephew until just before his disappearance on the 11th, and it was found that they swapped mobile phone USIM cards (Universal Subscriber Identity Module).

After receiving a cooperation request from the prosecution, the Coast Guard has continued investigations and intelligence gathering to verify the possibility of Kim's illegal departure by sea, but no significant clues have been found so far.

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