The leader of an organization accused of producing banners containing anti-China expressions and election fraud allegations using illegal political funds has avoided detention.
Kim Ji-hyun, the chief judge in charge of warrants at the Seoul Southern District Court, held a pre-detention suspect interrogation (substantive review of the arrest warrant) on Monday for a man surnamed Kim, leader of "Aeguk Hyeonsumak" (Patriotic Banners), who faces charges of violating the Political Funds Act. The judge rejected the arrest warrant, saying it was "difficult to see a risk that he would destroy evidence or flee."
Choi Chang-won, leader of the extra-parliamentary party "Naeilro Miraero" (currently Pro-U.S. Coalition), who had been scheduled to undergo the substantive warrant review alongside Kim, did not appear in court that day. The court rescheduled Choi's hearing to 10:30 a.m. Wednesday.
Kim and others are accused of receiving political funds through unreported accounts. They allegedly raised donations through Naeilro Miraero's accounts and then produced banners containing content that fostered anti-China sentiment and election fraud conspiracy theories.
Police launched an investigation in July last year after receiving a complaint from the National Election Commission alleging that Choi and others had violated the Political Funds Act. In January, police searched Kim's home in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province.
