The prosecution has decided to reapply for an arrest warrant for actor Yoo Ah In who is suspected of habitual drug use.
On September 18, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office’s Violent Crimes Investigation Department (headed by Prosecutor Shin Joon-ho) applied for an arrest warrant for Yoo Ah In on charges of violating the Narcotics Control Act, destroying evidence, and fleeing the scene. Yoo’s acquaintance, Mr. Choi, also faced the same charges and an arrest warrant was requested for him as well.
The prosecution alleges, ” Yoo Ah In has been illegally using medical narcotics through what is commonly known as ‘hospital shopping,’ habitually acquiring and using illegal sleeping pills under someone else’s name, and traveling abroad with accomplices to use narcotics. We have determined that these are serious crimes that obstruct the judicial process, such as actively sharing information about the investigation with accomplices, destroying evidence, helping accomplices flee overseas, and coercing and threatening them to change their statements.”
According to the prosecution, Yoo Ah In is suspected of habitually purchasing and using medical narcotics, including propofol, worth a total of 500 million won ($420,000) through the guise of receiving anesthesia for cosmetic procedures at hospitals in Seoul since 2020. He is also accused of illegally obtaining and using about 1,000 sleeping pills under someone else’s name on multiple occasions and using cocaine and marijuana in the United States with four others, including Mr. Choi, in January.
During the police investigation, an arrest warrant was previously requested for Yoo Ah In, but it was rejected in May, citing difficulties in acknowledging the risk of evidence destruction or fleeing. After receiving the case from the police, the prosecution conducted additional investigations for about three months and added charges of instructing his acquaintance to destroy evidence and coercing the consumption of marijuana in the United States.
Source: (A)
