[Anchor]
The detention warrant review for Hong Won-sik, the former chairman of Namyang Dairy, who is suspected of embezzlement and breach of trust amounting to tens of billions of won, is currently underway.
According to KBS’s investigation, the prosecution has secured internal documents indicating that former Chairman Hong led the exaggerated advertisement campaign for ‘Bulgari’ and instructed employees to destroy evidence, as stated in the detention warrant application.
Whether former Chairman Hong will be detained is expected to be decided as early as this afternoon.
This report is by Kim Beom-joo.
[Report]
The detention warrant review for Hong Won-sik, the former chairman of Namyang Dairy, accused of embezzling and committing breach of trust involving amounts in the tens of billions of won, has been conducted.
Former Chairman Hong appeared in court wearing a mask and headed straight to the courtroom without answering reporters’ questions about whether he acknowledges the allegations.
[Hong Won-sik/Former Chairman of Namyang Dairy: “(Is it true that you inserted a relative’s company into transactions?)…”]
Hong is accused of causing damages approximately amounting to tens of billions of won by unnecessarily inserting firms operated by his relatives into transactions while managing the publicly listed Namyang Dairy.
He is also suspected of accepting tens of billions of won from suppliers as transactional compensation, using company credit cards for personal expenses, and appointing a supplier representative as an auditor of the company to take back salaries.
Moreover, prosecutors included in the detention warrant application the charge that Hong spearheaded a false advertisement claiming that Namyang Dairy’s ‘Bulgari’ yogurt drink had preventive effects against COVID-19.
Investigations by KBS have confirmed that prosecutors have acquired internal documents that suggest Hong instructed changing the promotional format for the COVID-19 preventive effect from an in-house presentation to a symposium inviting journalists.
Additionally, testimonies from officials have been obtained, confirming that Hong ordered the disposal of cellphones, containing directions from him, into the Han River after suspicions of false advertising emerged.
Along with Hong, former Namyang Dairy Research Director Park Mo is undergoing a detention warrant review today. Park is suspected of having pocketed around 5 billion won over 20 years by creating a shell corporation while serving.
Prosecutors have also detected allegations of breach of trust involving Hong’s family members amounting to tens of billions of won and plan to proceed accordingly with Hong.
Whether Hong will be detained is expected to be decided as early as this afternoon.
This has been KBS News, Kim Beom-joo.
Camera: Yoo Hyun-woo/Video Editing: Lee Tae-hee
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