Court Denies Arrest Warrant for BAI Official in Presidential Relocation Audit Case

A senior official at South Korea's Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI), who oversaw the audit of the presidential office's relocation, has had his arrest warrant denied. The Seoul Central District Court stated that there were insufficient grounds to justify detention, considering the level of evidence presented, the ongoing disputes over the allegations, and the progress of the investigation.

The official, identified as Son, is accused of fabricating audit documents and evidence during the audit of the presidential residence's move. The special prosecution team had requested his arrest on June 16, arguing that evidence manipulation had occurred, influencing the audit's findings and raising concerns about the severity of the offense and the risk of evidence destruction.

The BAI's audit, conducted between 2022 and 2024, faced criticism for failing to thoroughly investigate the circumstances under which the interior company 21gram, lacking a general construction license, was awarded the contract for the presidential residence's renovation. Key allegations centered on whether 21gram secured the project through a special favor due to its ties with first lady Kim Keon-hee. Instead of focusing on these core issues, the BAI concentrated on problems related to the presidential office's construction, recommending the dismissal of one official and referring the case to prosecutors, thereby concluding the audit.