Article: B.I's suspected drug purchase investigation turn around...in the hands of the police...will the "slowmo" investigation succeed?
Source: kbs.co.kr
Police have announced investigations into iKON B.I's drug suspicions.
Bae Yong-ju, the head of the Gyeonggi Southern Police Agency told reporters on the 2nd, "Police will conduct its own investigation into B.I's drug purchase."
Suspicions of B.I's drug purchase in 2016 were raised in mid-June but there has been no progress in the investigations in two and a half months. KBS previously reported on the allegations on June 12th and stated that police never investigated the case at the time. Furthermore, a key witness 'A' stated that Yang Hyun Suk, Executive Producer at YG Entertainment at the time, forced her to reverse her statement. Even though the accomplice stated that she allegedly gave drugs B.I, the Gyeonggi-dong East Police Station that was in charge of the investigation didn't summon B.I or test for drugs.
In response to the suspicions, Bae Yong-ju stated, "We tried to investigate B.I at the time but the prosecution said that we didn't have jurisdiction and asked us to forward the case to prosecution."
He continued, "It was impossible under jurisdiction rules for the Prosecutor's office to investigate and direct the Gyeonggi Nambu office and not the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency. After two and a half months without any results we made it clear that we will investigate the case. The investigation had been internally arranged so that we can conduct our own investigation since the prosecutor investigations were slow."
Regarding whether 'A' will testify, Bae Yong-ju said, "We are learning that her lawyer has persuaded her to a certain extent so I think she [Han Seo Hee] will respond to our investigations."
According to Bae Yong-ju, they will conduct their own investigations as "a matter of fact-finding" than a legal one. As the case itself was three years ago and the investigation began in earnest three months later after the suspicions arose, they're uncertain how much evidence related to the case is remaining.
According to police, the investigation's success or failure will be based on how B.I is able to answer the allegations against him as there's not much evidence on the case.
The Prosecutor's office has confirmed that they plan to "watch the investigation by the Gyeonggi Office" but have no plans to hand over the case.