'Rhyme Incident' Kim Bong-hyun's Escape Plot... Solitary Confinement Punishment for One Month

Minister Han Dong-hoon "Strict Measures Will Set a Precedent"

Kim Bong-hyun (49), former chairman of Star Mobility and the main culprit of the 'Lime Scandal,' will be confined to solitary confinement for one month on charges of plotting an escape while in custody.

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

On the 7th, the Ministry of Justice announced that the Seoul Southern Detention Center held a disciplinary committee for Kim and imposed a 30-day solitary confinement punishment in accordance with the 'Act on the Execution of Sentences and Treatment of Prisoners' and related regulations.

Kim planned to escape by taking advantage of lax security when being transported for his second trial and conspired to carry out the plan with his sister. He asked an inmate in the same detention center for help, promising 2 billion won if the escape succeeded, and it was confirmed that his sister gave 10 million won as an initial payment to an acquaintance of the inmate.

In 2019, when the prosecution requested an arrest warrant, Kim evaded the warrant hearing and fled for five months before being caught. He was later released on bail and tried without detention but cut off his electronic monitoring device and fled in November last year, violating bail conditions.

Han Dong-hoon, Minister of Justice, said, "An unthinkable escape attempt in 21st century South Korea," adding, "We will take strict measures including disciplinary actions under the law beyond the investigation to set a precedent."

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