TV personality Robert Holley detained for meth use
Holley's longtime friend claims police overstep
By Kim Jae-heun
The apprehension of famous TV personality Robert Holley Monday for alleged drug use has come as a big shock to the public as he appeared to be a conservative and in his many TV appearances.
Police apprehended him at a parking lot in western Seoul at around 4:10 p.m. Monday on charges of allegedly purchasing methamphetamine online and using it at his residence in Seoul.
The 58-year-old has reportedly admitted to some of the allegations. When he encountered the press while being transferred from Suwon Nambu Police Station in Gyeonggi Province early Tuesday morning, he said, “I am sorry, I have a heavy heart.”
Police confirmed he sent hundreds of thousands of won to the bank account of a drug dealer late last month, and at his home they found a syringe they suspect was for drug use.
Holley tested positive for meth in a preliminary test, and the police sent his hair and urine samples to the National Forensic Service for drug testing.
They will decide soon whether to ask the prosecution to seek an arrest warrant, and continue to investigate whether he abused the drug with others.
The allegations are a shock to many because of the good image he has maintained for decades.
He came to Busan in 1978 as a Mormon missionary and rose to stardom for his eloquent use of the Busan dialect on television shows. For the last 40 years, he has caused no trouble and set an example to younger foreign entertainers. In 1997, he became naturalized and obtained Korean citizenship, taking the Korean name Ha Il. He also established a foreign school in Gwangju.
He is said to be a faithful Mormon, obeying strict religious rules against consuming caffeine, alcohol and nicotine.
Mark Peterson, an honorary professor of Brigham Young University in Utah who has been a close friend of Holley's for a long time, claimed the police forced Holley to provide false testimony of drug use even though they did not find evidence of his suspected crime.
In an interview with Yonhap News, Peterson said a Korean celebrity was busted on drug charges six months ago, and police offered the suspect a deal to reduce punishment if they gave names of other drug users. Police ended their investigation of Holley last October or November due to a lack of evidence, but brought up the allegation again in line with the recent drug scandal involving celebrities.