Yang Hyun-suk, former CEO of YG Entertainment[사진=연합뉴스]
Yang Hyun-suk, who was charged with negligent drug investigation, completely denied the charges in court.
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Yang Hyun-suk, a lawyer for the former CEO of YG Entertainment, asserts that he “denies all the crimes” regarding the ‘B.I drug investigation’. “It is true that Yang met the victim, but there was no threat or coercion to make false statements like the indictment,” said the lawyer.
On the 13th, the 23rd Criminal Settlement Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Chief Judge Yoo Young-geun) held the first trial preparation date against Yang, who was handed over to trial under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes such as ‘Threat of Retaliation’.
On the first trial preparation date, the prosecution revealed that Yang threatened to intimidate Han Mo, who stated that he had given drugs to B.I (Kim Han-bin), a celebrity who was affiliated with YG at the time, in August 2016.
Prosecutors said former CEO Yang called to YG’s office and said, “Reverse the statement. I think you’re in the entertainment industry or the entertainment industry, but it’s not like I’m going to kill you either.”
In response, the defense counsel emphasized the fact that the victim’s statements are changing as the basis for rebutting, saying, “The date of intimidation and coercion has been specified, but the process of revealing these words has taken several years.”
He continued, “The victim went abroad without saying anything, and there were several cases of his own drug cases.” “The investigation started after filing a public interest report, and (the victim) made a statement at that time.”
In the trial that day, the court continued to ask questions about the unknown whereabouts of CEO Lee In-kwang. Yang’s lawyer explained, “(Defendant) Lee In-gwang’s contact information is not listed and the whereabouts of Lee In-gwang cannot be identified.”
Other defendants in the case include Mr. Kim, who was charged with abetting Yang’s ‘threat of retaliation’, and In-gwang Lee, CEO of M& Pictures, who fled the victim overseas.
Prosecutors said, “We once issued an arrest warrant for Lee In-kwang, but we did not issue a warrant because he is currently indicted.”
At the same time, the prosecution said, “(Yang Hyun-suk and Kim) are able to keep the charges against Lee In-kwang.” The court said, “Lee In-kwang’s statement is key (to prove the case),” and “we will decide on the issuance of an arrest warrant.”
Meanwhile, the court said, “The record of evidence reaches 8,800 pages. (A simple case) was investigated almost like a special case,” he said, asking the prosecution to organize the evidence list and evidence records.
In addition, the court said, “The trial is now proceeding since the indictment was filed in May,” and that the judgment cannot be postponed until next year, and that from October, witness examination and evidence investigation of the victim, Mr. Han, etc. will be conducted. The next preparatory hearing will be held on September 17th.
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