In connection with the case of a Korean college student who died after being imprisoned and tortured by a Cambodian crime ring, a domestic broker who recruited bank accounts under borrowed names and sent the victim overseas has been arrested.
Son Yeongeon, presiding judge at the Andong branch of the Daegu District Court, issued an arrest warrant around 2 p.m. on the 19th after holding a pretrial detention hearing from 11 a.m. for A, in their 20s, who is accused of being directly involved in the departure from Korea of the deceased student, a person surnamed Park (22), on charges including violating the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Prevention of Telecommunication Financial Fraud and Refund of Damages. Son is said to have issued the warrant on the grounds of a risk of flight and destruction of evidence.
A is accused of being introduced last July to Park, an acquaintance, by a broker for bank accounts under borrowed names, a person surnamed Hong (in their 20s, indicted and detained), then having a bank account opened under Park's name and arranging Park's departure to Cambodia.
Earlier, on July 17, Park departed for Cambodia on the instructions of Hong's organization and was found dead three weeks later, on Aug. 8, in a car near Bokor Mountain in Kampot Province.
In early September, after arresting Hong, police are said to have tracked the flow of funds in the bank account under Park's name and communication records to investigate those involved with the organization. Hong was confirmed to have attended the same university as Park. Hong has been put on trial on charges including violating the Electronic Financial Transactions Act. Hong's trial is scheduled for Nov. 13.
Meanwhile, Park's body is currently enshrined at Teuk Thla Temple in Cambodia, and after consultations between the two countries, an autopsy is expected to be conducted locally in the presence of a joint Korean government response team, after which the body will be repatriated to Korea.