- Haru Invest CEO Mr. Lee was attacked in court at his fraud trial for $826M embezzlement.
- Mr. Kang, who was a victim of fraud, smuggled in a knife and stabbed Lee multiple times.
- The South Korean authorities are investigating the breach in courtroom security after the assault against Mr. Lee.
Mr. Lee, the CEO of South Korean crypto earning platform Haru Invest was attacked in court on 28 August. The incident occurred during the eighth trial in his ongoing fraud case, at the Seoul Southern District Court. He faces accusations of defrauding 826 million dollars in cryptocurrency from 16 000 users.
Mr. Kang, 51 years old, was identified as the victim of the alleged fraud.
Mr. Kang reportedly lost money in the Haru Invest scam, and smuggled a knife measuring 20cm into Courtroom No. 306. Kang suddenly attacked Mr. Lee as he sat on the defendant’s seat around 2:20 P.M.
Six observers, including victims of the case, were present in the courtroom presided over Judge Yang Hwan Seung of the 15th Criminal Division at the time of attack. The assault left Mr. Lee splattered with blood on the courtroom flooring, and he was bleeding heavily. Court security subdued Kang quickly and called emergency services.
Officers from Seoul Yangcheon Police Station, along with rescue crews, arrived on the scene at around 2:30 P.M. Mr. Lee was then transported to a hospital nearby for treatment by 2:43 P.M. His condition is not disclosed. Mr. Lee’s appearance in court was part of ongoing proceedings stemming Haru Invest’s decision to halt withdrawals and deposits by June 2023.
The CEO was arrested in February 2024 and charged under South Korea’s Aggravated Punishment Law for Specific Economic Crimes. In July, Mr. Lee and two other executives were released on bail, but the investigation into his alleged involvement with the $826 million fraud continued.
The South Korean authorities have opened an investigation into the assault in the courtroom. Mr. Kang, who was arrested immediately following the attack, is being investigated by the police to determine his motives and how he brought a weapon into a courtroom.
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