BAI official faces arrest over alleged leniency in official residence relocation audit... remains silent

[Financial News] A BAI official accused of conducting a flawed audit into allegations that the Yoon Suk Yeol government received preferential treatment during the relocation of the Presidential Residence of South Korea is now facing possible arrest.
Judge Lee Jong-rok of the Seoul Central District Court is presiding over a pretrial detention hearing for Son, who is accused of falsifying official documents and other offenses, on the 18th.
Before entering the hearing, Son did not answer reporters' questions about the allegations of falsifying official documents and headed straight into the courtroom.
Earlier, the special counsel team requested an arrest warrant for Son on the 16th, citing concerns that he might destroy evidence.
Son, who led the audit team investigating allegations surrounding the relocation of the presidential office and official residence, is accused of submitting false reports by manipulating evidence documents during the audit process.
The special counsel team said it had found signs suggesting that Son's alleged crimes affected the audit results.
The special counsel team is examining whether any illegal acts occurred during the BAI's audit of allegations surrounding the relocation of the Yongsan Presidential Office and official residence from 2022 to 2024. The main allegation is that 21gram, a company that did not meet the required qualifications, won the construction contract unfairly by leveraging its ties to First Lady Kim Keon-hee.
In 2024, the BAI said that 15 unqualified companies, including 21gram, had participated through private contracts.
However, the BAI dismissed questions at the time about how 21gram was recommended and who made the recommendation. The special counsel team is expected to examine whether the Office of the President of the Republic of Korea exerted undue pressure or issued instructions during the audit, and whether issues related to the recommendation process were deliberately excluded.
The result of the warrant review for Son is expected to be released as early as late tonight.
[email protected] Jung Kyung-soo Reporter