Will the Chinese Involved in 278 KT Microtransactions Be Arrested Today?

[Financial News] The detention decision for two Chinese nationals identified as suspects in the 'KT Unauthorized Microtransactions' case could be made as early as the 18th.
According to the Cyber Investigation Division of the Gyeonggi Nambu Police Agency, the pre-detention suspect interrogation (warrant review) for Chinese nationals Mr. A (48) and Mr. B (44) will be held at 10:30 AM on the same day at the Suwon District Court Ansan Branch.
The decision on whether to issue an arrest warrant is expected to be made on the same day in the afternoon or evening, or at the latest by the morning of the 19th.
Mr. A and Mr. B are scheduled to leave the Suwon Yeongtong Police Station, where they are currently detained, at around 8:30 AM to 9:00 AM to be transported to the court for the warrant review.
Mr. A is fluent in Korean like an average Korean person, while Mr. B is known to not speak Korean at all.
Mr. A is accused of carrying illegal small base station equipment in a van from late last month to early this month, hacking mobile phones of KT users in specific areas of the metropolitan area to make microtransactions such as purchasing mobile vouchers and charging transportation cards. Mr. B is accused of cashing out these microtransactions.
The police urgently arrested Mr. A and Mr. B on the 16th at Incheon International Airport and Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul.
The police applied charges of violating the Information and Communications Network Act (infringement) and computer fraud against Mr. A, and computer fraud and violation of the Act on Regulation of Concealment of Crime Proceeds against Mr. B, and applied for arrest warrants on the 17th.
Previously, the police received several reports from victims living in the Soha-dong area of Gwangmyeong-si, Gyeonggi Province, stating that "tens of thousands of won were withdrawn from their mobile phones through microtransactions without their knowledge during the early morning hours of August 27-31," and launched an investigation. Subsequently, similar reports were received from nearby areas such as Gwangmyeong, Geumcheon in Seoul, Bupyeong in Incheon, Bucheon, and Gwacheon in Gyeonggi Province.
The police have calculated the damage as of the 15th to be 200 cases with a loss of approximately 120 million won, but KT's own assessment shows a difference with 278 cases (approximately 170 million won), indicating that the number may increase further.
Regardless of their detention status, the police are continuing to investigate the main perpetrators who fled to China. If detention is confirmed, they plan to pursue additional charges.




425_sama@fnnews.com Choi Seung-han Reporter