The pretrial detention warrants requests for the controversial kpop singer Seungri, 29, and former CEO of Yuri Holdings Yoo In Suk, 34, have been dismissed by the Seoul Central District Court, according to Korean media reports. These warrants allow police to detain a suspect longer than 48 hours.
Seungri and Yoo In Suk attended their arrest warrant hearing in the morning of May 14. The suspicions on the arrest warrants included procuring prostitution, embezzlement, and more.
Following hours of deliberation, Judge Shin Jong Yeol of the Seoul Central District Court announced the dismissal of the requested pretrial detention warrants around 10 pm KST on the same day.
“There is room for dispute in regards to the main suspicion, which is embezzlement. It is also difficult to recognize a reason for detention, such as potential destruction of evidence, in regards to the remaining suspicions.” He explained in Seungri's case.
Yoo In Suk, who was charged with the warrant, was dismissed for the same reason. He returned home after the court's decision to dismiss.
The police have not released an official statement on the dismissal, which means they have to investigate Seungri and Yoo without detention.
Previously, Business Times reported that police have found three separate instances of purchasing prostitution services at least three times, including a woman who worked at an adult entertainment establishment.
According to reports, Yoo In Suk worked with Seungri on the club Burning Sun and other business. Yoo is also reported as an influential figure in the group chatrooms.
Pretrial detention warrants for members of the group chatrooms Jung Joon Young and Choi Jong Hoon were issued earlier regarding filming and sharing of hidden camera videos and aggravated rape, respectively.
The Court's decision makes netizens disappointed, following are comments from Korean netizens:
1. [+6,024, -59]
You call this a country?
2. [+3,676, -35]
Is this a country? I'm so dumfounded. Just who's supporting their backs? What a good damn country
3. [+3,412, -30]
ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ If they were gonna dismiss his arrest anyways, they should've imprisonned Seungri and dismiss Choi Jonghoon insteadㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Are they really trying to make us think that he's innocent?.. he's just from YG and a member of Bigbang... but why is his backing so good...?
4. [+2,089, -68]
Are these words or farts? You f*cking sh*tty police
5. [+1,408, -28]
Not arresting the people who should be jailed... aigo aigo~~
6. [+617, -5]
Dismiss his arrest? ;; Dismiss!? Somehow the inspection of his arrest warrant took over 10 hours! Other celebrities get arrested right away with only 1 or 2 suspects and without much investigation. This guys have countless charges but they are dismissed?! Ridiculous.
