Court Extends Detention Period of 'Lime Scandal' Main Suspect Kim Bong-hyun Until First Trial Verdict

Former Star Mobility Chairman Kim Bong-hyun [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] The detention period of former Star Mobility Chairman Kim Bong-hyun, who fled while on trial as the main culprit in the 'Lime scandal,' has been extended until the date of the first trial verdict.

The Seoul Southern District Court Criminal Division 13 (Chief Judge Sangju Lee) issued an arrest warrant on the 27th for Kim's embezzlement charges under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes. The court cited the risk of flight as the reason for issuing the warrant. Originally, Kim's detention period was set to expire at midnight on February 3. However, with the new warrant issued that day, the detention period was extended until midnight on February 10. Accordingly, Kim will remain in custody until the first trial verdict date on February 9.

Previously, Kim was arrested and indicted in May 2020 on charges of embezzling over 100 billion KRW, including 24.1 billion KRW from Suwon Passenger Transport between October 2018 and March 2020, about 40 billion KRW from Star Mobility funds invested by Lime Asset Management, and 37.7 billion KRW in assets held by the Veterans Mutual Aid Association after its acquisition. He was released on bail in July 2021 and was undergoing trial without detention but fled just before the sentencing hearing on November 11 last year. Under bail conditions, he cut off the electronic monitoring device on his wrist and escaped, but was apprehended by prosecutors on the 29th of last month.

On the 16th, prosecutors demanded a 40-year prison sentence for Kim at the sentencing hearing.

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