WASHINGTON (Yonhap) — A key aide to the late South Korean shipping tycoon blamed for April’s ferry disaster had negotiated with investigators about turning herself in before her arrest in the United States last week, a person close to her said Monday.
Kim Hye-kyung, 52, one of the closest aides to Yoo Byung-eun, the late owner of the ferry Sewol, was arrested in Virginia on Thursday. She had been wanted for her role in a string of irregularities believed to have contributed to the sinking that claimed the lives of more than 300 people.
The person familiar with Kim’s situation told Yonhap News Agency on condition of anonymity that Kim had expressed her willingness to voluntarily return to South Korea and discussed specific ways to do so with South Korean authorities before last week’s arrest.
Kim’s alleged willingness to turn herself in, if true, would mean that she is likely to comply with a deportation order from the U.S. government and return home earlier than expected. Should she refuse to comply with a deportation order, however, a trial must be held to have her repatriated.
Since her arrest, Kim has been held at Rappahannock Detention Center in Stafford, Virginia. U.S. authorities have been denying Kim bail over concern that she could flee or destroy evidence. Kim has reportedly hired an American lawyer.
A diplomatic source said that he does not know whether Kim had discussions with the South Korean government about voluntarily returning home. It is also unclear whether she hired a lawyer for a voluntary return home or for a legal battle, the source said.
Kim entered the U.S. in March on a 90-day visa waiver program. She had since been holed up in the U.S., overstaying the time allowed for her as she was wanted on suspicion of corruption after the April 17 disaster.
Some of Yoo’s aides and family members have fled overseas, prompting the prosecution to request Interpol to locate them. Yoo’s daughter, Som-na, is fighting an extradition bid from Paris, and his second son, Hyuk-ki, is also wanted on corruption charges but is hiding abroad.
