Prosecution seeks arrest warrant for ex-Ssangbangwool chief in corruption probe

SUWON, South Korea, Jan. 19 (Yonhap) — Prosecutors on Thursday sought an arrest warrant for a business tycoon who was arrested in Thailand after months of being on the run over several high-profile corruption allegations.

Kim Seong-tae, former chairman of underwear maker Ssangbangwool Group, is facing multiple charges, including embezzlement, bribery and the illegal transfer of cash to North Korea, according to the Suwon District Prosecutors Office.

Prosecutors, however, have not yet charged Kim over allegedly paying attorney expenses by proxy for opposition leader Lee Jae-myung.

Roughly eight months after he fled the country amid investigations, Kim was apprehended by Thai police and returned home Tuesday.

Kim has been long sought by prosecutors as a key suspect in a number of high-profile corruption investigations, including an alleged connection to Lee.

Allegations rose that Ssangbangwool Group paid attorney fees when Lee was standing trial for an election law violation in 2018 when he was the governor of Gyeonggi Province. Several large law firms were appointed at the time, and Lee was eventually acquitted.

Both Kim and Lee have denied the allegations, saying they are not acquainted.

Kim resigned as group chair in 2021 but has allegedly remained in charge of major decision-making at the group.

Kim, meanwhile, will not attend a court hearing to determine his arrest, according to his lawyer.

A court will decide whether to approve his arrest based on the prosecution’s testimony and evidence, and the decision is expected to come out as early as late Thursday.