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| Lee Myung-hee / Yonhap |
Police said Thursday that they are seeking an arrest warrant for the wife of Korean Air Chairman Cho Yang-ho on charges of verbal and physical violence against construction workers, company employees and others under her control.
Police accused Lee Myung-hee, 69, of habitually assaulting, insulting and injuring people by taking advantage of her powerful status. Lee allegedly perpetrated 24 cases of violence against 11 people between August 2011 and March this year, officials said.
The warrant request came after police questioned Lee for 15 hours on Monday and for 11 hours on Wednesday.
Lee allegedly hurled a pair of pruning shears at a security guard at her home in Seoul for failing to take care of the house's door properly. She was also accused of kicking her chauffeur on the street for making a mistake, and shoving and cursing at construction workers hired for a hotel expansion project.
Lee was pressed with seven counts of charges, officials said.
Some of the charges, such as special injury and special assault, are punishable even if the victims reach a settlement with the assailant and drop accusations.
Lee has denied most of the charges against her.
"Lee habitually assaulted, insulted and injured socially weak people without any sense of guilt by taking advantage of her superior status," police said in the warrant request. "Despite the case's seriousness, (Lee) denied charges by saying she has no recollection, and is feared to destroy evidence." (Yonhap)
