Police set to arrest Seungri for pimping, embezzlement
SEOUL: Police are poised to arrest singer Seungri for involvement in a prostitution racket and embezzlement.
Also facing pimping charges is Yuri Holdings CEO Yoo In Seok. He has already confessed to collaborating with Seungri in the crime.
A police officer said, “The two have also been booked by the Intelligence Crime Investigation Unit on charges of embezzlement so we’re considering whether to apply for a warrant by combining the charges.”
Police had been questioning both Seungri and Yoo for providing prostitutes at a party they held for a group of visiting Japanese investors in 2015.
Initially, both had denied the accusations saying “there was no prostitution or sexual services”,
However, during interrogations, Yoo admitted to the charge when presented with recounted details by a woman in her 40s, a prostitute, who was at the event.
According to police, on Dec 24, 2015, a couple of Japanese businessmen and their acquaintances visited Korea for a three- day stay. The investors stayed for two nights at Hotel H, a five-star hotel in Seoul, at their most high- end rooms.
Police believe that Yoo called in prostitutes for the two days and let them enter the investors’ rooms. More than 10 prostitutes were used to provide “services” both day and night.
Police investigations showed that Seungri had paid about US$ 27,000 for the “services” using a corporate YG
Yes, I admit to paying for the hotel, I didn’t mean to pay for the sexual services.
Entertainment credit card.
In his denial, Seungri said: “Yes, I admit to paying for the hotel, I didn’t mean to pay for the sexual services.”
However, a police officer said: “When we look at the Katalk conversation which contained the circumstantial evidence suggesting sexual entertainment, it’s hard to trust Seungri’s statement that he didn’t know. There is a conversation in the tokbang with Seungri, Yoo and Jung Joon Young where they find out that CEO Yoo was sending prostitutes to a group of Japanese businessmen. In addition, Yoo even tried to send some of the prostitutes he had mobilised to Jung Joon Young as well. Yoo said to Jung Joon Young, ‘ I will send you a gift. What’s your address?’”
When asked about this, Seungri said, “I don’t remember.”
Seungri is also being investigated for another instance of prostitution at his birthday party in Palawan, Philippines. Seungri claimed that the expenses paid to the women who attended the party was for travel but the amount paid surpasses a simple travel expense reimbursement.
Seungri, singer and former member of Big bang