popera star-arrest warrant

 

(2nd LD) Embattled popera star Kim Ho-joong says 'sincerely sorry' ahead of arrest warrant hearing

 

   SEOUL, May 24 (Yonhap) -- Embattled popera star Kim Ho-joong attended a court hearing held Friday to determine whether to issue an arrest warrant for him on charges of ramming into a taxi while driving under the influence and fleeing the scene.

 

   Donning a black business suit without a necktie, Kim appeared at the Seoul Central District Court for the hearing, two days after prosecutors applied for an arrest warrant on charges of crashing into a stationary taxi in the opposite lane in Seoul's southern district of Gangnam at night on May 9 while driving drunk.

 

   He then allegedly left the scene without taking post-accident measures.

 

   When asked about his alleged crime by reporters, Kim bowed his head and said: "I will sincerely respond to today's hearing. I am sincerely sorry."

 

   Following a 50-minute hearing, Kim, with his hands roped, was escorted by police officers to wait in custody at the Gangnam Police Station until the court's decision. 

 

   He will be released if the court rejects the warrant request. If the warrant is granted, he will be arrested and sent to a detention center for further investigation.

 

   The final court decision is expected late Friday.

 

   Police and prosecutors expect the court to issue a warrant on the grounds that he had initially lied about how much alcohol he drank on the day of the accident and had been uncooperative in submitting his mobile phones for investigation. 

 

▲ Popera star Kim Ho-joong is escorted by police officers from the Seoul Central District Court to wait in custody at the Gangnam Police Station on May 24, 2024, following a court hearing on an arrest warrant. (Yonhap)

 

   Arrest warrants have also been sought for Lee Kwang-deuk, the head of Kim's management agency, and another agency official on charges of instigating Kim's flight from the accident site or destroying evidence.

 

   The 33-year-old singer rose to stardom after appearing on the audition show "Mr. Trot."

 

   The previous day, Kim's side filed a request with the court to postpone the scheduled hearing, apparently intending to proceed with his two-day concert from Thursday to Friday in Seoul, but the court rejected the request.

 

   Dumir, the organizer of the show, said Kim would not be on stage Friday.

 

   The popular singer came under public fury after it was reported that his manager initially lied to the police that he was behind the wheel at the time of the accident and that Kim appeared before the police 17 hours after the accident, apparently to evade a blood alcohol test.

 

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