Jeong I-han, 38, a former Reform Party candidate for Busan mayor, was arrested on charges of staging a fake attack during a campaign event in the 9th nationwide local elections (June 3 local elections).
According to legal sources on the 8th, the Busan District Court issued an arrest warrant after holding a pretrial detention hearing for Jeong on charges including obstruction of official duties by deceit and violations of the Public Official Election Act. A, who threw a drink cup at the former candidate Jeong, was also arrested.
The court said it issued the arrest warrant for the former candidate Jeong because "there are concerns about destruction of evidence." Regarding A, it said "there are concerns about destruction of evidence and risk of flight."
The former candidate Jeong claimed that on Apr. 27, near the Guseo interchange in Geumjeong District, Busan, while campaigning, he was hit by a drink thrown out of a passing car and collapsed.
However, after investigating the relationship between the former candidate Jeong and A, whether they contacted each other before and after the incident, and the possibility of collusion, police concluded it was a staged act and sought an arrest warrant. A was reported to be a gym trainer and director acquainted with the former candidate Jeong.
With the former candidate Jeong under arrest, police are expected to gain momentum in clarifying other suspicions. Police are currently investigating allegations that employees of a subsidiary of On Group, operated by the former candidate Jeong's father, were mobilized for campaign activities; controversy over the fairness of a polling institute related to the former candidate Jeong; and possible violations of the Medical Service Act in the hospital diagnosis process.