Arrest warrant sought on Yoo
A follower of the Evangelical Baptist Church, better known as the Salvation Sect led by Yoo Byung-eun, protests in front of the entrance of Geumsuwon, the cult’s stronghold, in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province, Friday. A banner reading “Presidential chief of staff Kim Ki-choon, let’s see who will win” is hung on the front gate. The followers have pinpointed Kim as the “mastermind” of the prosecution’s investigation into Yoo and his family. / Yonhap
By Lee Hyo-sik
Yoo Byung-eun, owner of the sunken ferry Sewol, defied the prosecution’s summons Friday, prompting prosecutors to seek an arrest warrant.
Hundreds of followers of Salvation Sect, a religious cult led by Yoo, guarded the gate of Geumsuwon, a retreat in Anseong. Investigators suspect he is in the premises.
Yoo, 73, was supposed to appear for questioning over the April 16 ferry sinking at the Incheon District Prosecutors’ Office at 10 a.m., but didn’t show up.
Yoo’s followers claim the investigation into Yoo and his family is tantamount to religious suppression, saying the Coast Guard is responsible for the deaths of the ferry passengers, not Yoo or Chonghaejin Marine.
The prosecution had planned to question Yoo about whether he is involved in the management of Chonghaejin Marine and its other affiliated firms, and was aware of the shipping firm’s inappropriate operations and poor safety management.
Yoo is believed to be the real owner of the ferry operator and dozens of its affiliates through back-door deals.
The former chairman would also be questioned about how Semo Group units borrowed large amounts of money from financial firms and whether he illegally stashed wealth overseas and cooked accounting books, among other suspected illicit activities.
Previously, Yoo’s four children ― Dae-gyun, Hyuk-kee, Seom-na and Sang-na ― had all ignored the prosecution’s summons.
Yoo’s eldest son Dae-gyun, rebuffed the prosecution’s Monday ultimatum, while Hyuk-kee, the second son, is overseas and has severed contact with his lawyers. His two daughters are also believed to be abroad.
The prosecution was issued a warrant to detain Dae-gyun, Tuesday, and raided the Yoo’s family home in southern Seoul. No one opened the door so investigators forced their way into the house. But they failed to arrest Dae-gyun.
Prosecutors also visited Geumsuwon in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province, the main base of the Salvation Sect, based on tips that Yoo and his eldest son could be taking refuge there, but were denied access to the property by the cult’s members who barricaded the entry.
``We are considering raiding Geumsuwon to secure the custody of Yoo and his son. But we are concerned about the possible confrontation with members of Yoo’s religious group,’’ a prosecution official said. ``However, despite all the difficulties, we will mobilize all possible resources to detain the Yoos.’’
In response, members of the Evangelical Baptist Church at Geumsuwon have pledged to fight what they call the ``suppression of religion.’’ They argue that the Coast Guard failed to save hundreds of passengers onboard the ferry Sewol, not Yoo or Chonghaejin.
The members even vowed to die as martyrs against the law enforcement authorities if they try to forcibly enter their holdout. Nearly 1,000 members of the religious group have gathered at Geumsuwon and stacked up water and other supplies for the extended confrontation with the prosecution.