Background
An investigation proceeded on allegations that subsidies under a government support program had been obtained fraudulently by preparing documents as if the project had been completed. With a large sum at stake (some KRW 1.7 billion), an arrest warrant was even sought against our client.
What Was at Stake
Detention deprives a person of physical liberty even before trial, and is a grave measure. The key question was whether the premise of the fraud allegation — that our client "had neither the intention nor the ability to complete the project from the outset" — could be established.
How Changchun Helped
Changchun made a showing that our client had in fact completed the project, highlighting that the premise of the fraud allegation was therefore unstable.
The court denied the arrest warrant sought, and our client was able to defend the case without being detained. The case shows that the larger the sums involved, the more decisive an active response in the early stages of an investigation is in protecting physical liberty. (Related coverage: Naver News) (Outcomes depend on the facts of each case and may differ.)