Kim Bong-hyun (49), former chairman of Star Mobility, who fled while being tried for the main culprit of the 'Lime Incident', did not appear at the first trial after being arrested.
The 13th Seoul Southern District Court Criminal Agreement (Presiding Judge Lee Sang-joo) originally planned to hold a decision trial for former Chairman Kim at 2:00 pm on the 12th, but the trial was postponed as he submitted a written reason for non-attendance.
In the reason for his absence, former Chairman Kim said, "I ask for your understanding that I cannot attend today's trial due to unstable health," and "I will attend on the next date."
Former Chairman Kim was caught in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province on the 29th of last month, after 48 days on the run, and is imprisoned in the Seoul Southern Detention Center.
The court decided to set the next date at 2:00 pm on the 16th and issue a warrant to put former chairman Kim in court.
Still, if former Chairman Kim refuses to appear, we plan to proceed with the trial without the accused.
The judge said, "It seems that the defendant continues to delay the trial."
Former Chairman Kim was arrested and indicted in May 2020 on charges of stealing tens of billions of won from Suwon passengers and Star Mobility funds and providing money and entertainment to politicians and prosecutors.
He was released on bail in July 2021 and was on trial in a state of detention while running away just before the final trial was held on November 11 last year.
At the time, former Chairman Kim cut off the electronic device he was wearing on his wrist under bail conditions and ran away, but was caught by the prosecution on the 29th of last month.