The Incheon District Court on Friday issued an arrest warrant for Kim Hea-kyung, a former close confidante of the late ferry owner Yoo Byung-eun, to take her into custody.
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| Kim Hea-kyung Yonhap |
Kim, 52, arrived at Incheon International Airport last Tuesday after she was deported from the United States. She is the chief of Hankook Pharm Co., a core unit of Chonghaejin Marine Co., the operator of the sunken ferry Sewol.
The court cited fears that Kim may flee or destroy evidence, while she has been on charges of pocketing company funds of some Chonghaejin affiliates and offertories given by devotees of the Salvation Sect, which was led by the irregularity-saddled Yoo.
Aside from the embezzlement charges, the ex-aide of the late ferry tycoon has been suspected of having engaged in tax evasion and violation of the real name account law, according to the prosecution.
While investigators say that Kim raked in wealth including properties, stocks and deposits totaling about 40 billion won ($37.7 million) via shady deals, there has been a speculation that her irregular wealth surpasses 100 billion won.
The prosecution has already embarked on a process to confiscate the illicit wealth of Kim as well as other aides and family of Yoo, who was found dead on June 12 by a farmer.
According to financial authorities, a large portion of Yoo’s wealth was reporteldy handed over to Kim under borrowed names.
Further, Kim had allegedly transferred some billion won to foreign countries including the U.S. under borrowed bank accounts, said an official with the Financial Supervisory Service.
The regulatory official noted that among the borrowed names was Lee Sook-ja, a former housekeeper of the Yoo family.
A lawyer said Kim has been suspected of urging devotees of the Salvation Sect to buy health supplement products made by Hankook Pharm Co. by issuing irregular loans to them.
She reportedly has a son and daughter, both in their teens, residing in North America though she is legally single.
Some former sect devotees have said that Kim allegedly had an affair with Yoo Byung-eun to have the two children, though Kwon Yoon-ja is Yoo’s legal widow. Kwon was earlier indicted on charges of misappropriating funds at a Chonghaejin Marine unit.
By Kim Yon-se (kys@heraldcorp.com)
