The pre-arrest interrogation of Kim Yae-sung, a key figure in the 'Butler Gate' incident, has concluded. The decision on Mr. Kim's arrest is expected as early as the evening of the 15th.
Judge Lim Jeong-bin of the Seoul Central District Court conducted the substantive review of the warrant for Mr. Kim, who is under suspicion of violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes (embezzlement) and work-related embezzlement, from 2:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. The interrogation, initially scheduled to begin at 2 p.m., started 30 minutes late due to prior case handling.
After the interrogation, Mr. Kim did not respond to reporters' questions about 'connections with Kim Keon-hee,' 'allegations of quid pro quo investments,' and 'the alleged embezzlement of 3.38 billion won.'
Previously, the Kim Keon-hee Special Investigation Team (Special Prosecutor Min Jung-ki) reported that Mr. Kim embezzled a total of 3.38 billion won from the rental car company IMS Mobility and the family corporation Innovest Korea, and requested an arrest warrant the day before. The special investigation team claims that Mr. Kim used the name corporation Innovest Korea's funds to lend 2.43 billion won to former IMS Mobility CEO Jo Young-tak, paid his spouse false salaries, and received false service fees.
The special investigation team emphasized that Mr. Kim has shown signs of evading arrest, having delayed his return after refusing to comply with summons requests since his overseas departure in April. In fact, Mr. Kim only returned to Korea on the 12th after the passport invalidation measure was enforced and was arrested at Incheon Airport.
'Butler Gate' refers to allegations that corporations invested 18.4 billion won in IMS Mobility, in which Mr. Kim, known as the 'Butler' of Kim Keon-hee's family, was involved, and that over 4.6 billion won of that amount flowed to Kim Keon-hee's side through Innovest Korea. In an interview before his return, Mr. Kim claimed that of the 4.6 billion won, over 3.5 billion won was borrowed to former CEO Jo, and the remaining 700 million won was used for taxes and other expenses.
Mr. Kim was sentenced to a suspended prison term for helping Choi Eun-soon forge a bank balance certificate in 2021, and has established relationships with the family of Kim Keon-hee, having previously served as an auditor at Kim Keon-hee's exhibition planning company, Kobana Contents.
However, it is reported that Kim Keon-hee's name is not included in this arrest warrant. It is also noted that Mr. Kim's side has claimed to have severed ties with Kim Keon-hee's side since the revelation of the balance certificate incident.