A businessman accused of asking a police officer to cover up his influencer wife’s fraud case was arrested, while the officer suspected of helping him avoided detention.
Judge Hwang Jung-yeon of the Seoul Southern District Court on April 22 issued an arrest warrant for a man identified only as Lee, who is accused of offering bribes and violating the Capital Markets Act, citing concerns he could destroy evidence after a warrant review hearing.
Lee’s spouse, identified only as A, is an influencer who also worked as a model for a Pilates academy. She was accused around July 2024 by franchisees of fraud and violating the Franchise Business Act. In December that year, Seoul’s Gangnam Police Station decided there was no basis to pursue the case.
Prosecutors suspect Lee met a superintendent from Gangnam Police Station, identified only as Song, through an officer he knew, treated him at a room salon and provided money and valuables. Prosecutors also suspect Song leaked investigative information to Lee about A’s case, which was being handled by another team. Prosecutors sought arrest warrants for both men.
It was prosecutors’ second attempt to detain Lee. Last month, prosecutors sought a warrant on suspicion he conspired with stock price manipulators — including a brokerage firm department head and businesspeople — to rig the share price of a KOSDAQ-listed company, but the court denied the request. With Lee now in custody, prosecutors plan additional investigation into the alleged cover-up and the stock manipulation allegations.
The court denied the arrest warrant for Song, who is accused of taking bribes and leaking official secrets.
Hwang said there is a dispute over whether the entertainment or money and valuables amounted to a bribe, making it necessary to protect Song’s right to defense. On the alleged leak of official secrets, Hwang said there is also a dispute over whether a crime was established, given the content and importance of the information provided and its impact on the overall investigation.
Prosecutors said they will review the court’s reasoning and then decide whether to seek another warrant.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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