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[EXCLUSIVE] Prosecutors seek arrest warrant for Kim Seui over ‘defamation of #KimSoohyun’ charges - “Concern over extreme choice, detention needed”
Kim Seui, the head of Gaseyeon, who is in a legal dispute with actor Kim Soohyun after broadcasting claims that the late Kim Saeron dated him since she was a minor, will appear in court on May 26 to receive a suspect questioning before arrest.
According to this paper’s reporting, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office on the 19th requested an arrest warrant, saying, “The reasons for requesting an arrest warrant against the suspect (Kim Seui, Gaseyeon representative) in the case of violation of the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes (distribution of filmed materials using cameras, etc.) are considered sufficient.”
The warrant review hearing for Kim Seui will take place on May 26 at 10:30 a.m. at the Seoul Central District Court.
Earlier, the Seoul Gangnam Police Station, which investigated the case after Kim Soohyun’s complaint, listed these reasons for detention:
△ seriousness of the crime
△ risk of repeated offenses
△ concern over destruction of evidence and escape
△ concern over harm toward the victim and important witnesses.
In the arrest warrant request submitted to prosecutors on May 14, police stated:
“Without properly checking the truth, the suspect repeatedly claimed through YouTube broadcasts and press conferences that the complainant (Kim Soohyun) dated and had sexual relations with the deceased (Kim Saeron) when she was a minor, and that pressure from the complainant’s side over debt repayment caused the deceased’s death.”
“After receiving KakaoTalk chat capture materials from the bereaved family showing conversations between the deceased and someone labeled ‘Unknown,’ the suspect inserted the complainant’s photo into the KakaoTalk profile section of ‘Unknown’ and changed the conversation partner’s name from ‘Unknown’ to the complainant, making it appear as if the chats were real conversations between the complainant and the deceased.”
“Even while fully aware that the identity of the person the deceased had spoken with was not confirmed, the suspect uploaded manipulated KakaoTalk materials to make them appear to be real conversations with the complainant. In addition, during a press conference, he played a voice file of the deceased allegedly altered with AI and claimed false facts, saying, ‘The deceased first had sexual relations with the complainant during the winter vacation of her second year of middle school, and the complainant’s side tried to persuade the informant of the recording file by offering 4 billion won in exchange for the file.’”
“The suspect broadcast several materials related to the complainant, including a photo allegedly showing the complainant washing dishes at the deceased’s home, and applied psychological pressure by saying, ‘If there is no apology or statement to the bereaved family, additional private materials will be revealed.’ There is considerable reason to suspect crimes including spreading false information, defamation, and violation of the Information and Communications Network Act (defamation).”
“If the suspect, who is already involved in multiple investigations and trials, is additionally indicted in this case, he is likely very aware of the weight of the criminal responsibility he may face. There is a strong possibility that he may act uncooperatively in criminal procedures or attempt to flee in order to avoid legal and financial disadvantages.”
“Furthermore, the suspect is expected to be under considerable pressure due to participation in political rallies and protests, along with the various economic and social controversies surrounding him. If he is indicted and put on trial in this case, his psychological support system could collapse.”
