Police open YG gambling investigation

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Police open YG gambling investigation

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Police have began an official investigation into Yang Hyun-suk, former head of YG Entertainment, and Lee Seung-hyun, the former member of boy band Big Bang who went by the stage name Seungri, for illegal gambling overseas, police said on Wednesday.

“We have booked former president [of YG Entertainment] Yang and Seungri for habitual gambling,” police said during a press briefing held at the National Police Agency in Migeun-dong, western Seoul.

The police are also “looking into” pressing additional charges against Yang and Lee for unauthorized currency exchange.

“We cannot [provide] details [about] their crime, the amount of money or the number of times [they exchanged money] because it’s likely they will try to get rid of evidence,” police said.

Earlier this month, police were given a tip that Yang and Lee had gambled illegally overseas, namely in one of the VIP rooms at the MGM Grand Las Vegas Hotel and Casino.

Article 246 of the Criminal Act states that “a person who commits the offense of gambling shall be punished by a fine not exceeding ten million won ($8,232.15),” and “a person who habitually commits the crime of paragraph (1) shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than three years, or by a fine not exceeding 20 million won.”

Korean citizens are only allowed to gamble at the state-authorized Kangwon Land in Gangwon.

Yang was booked in July for soliciting sex services for foreign investors in 2014, as well as Lee who was booked for soliciting sex service in 2015, also for foreign investors. Lee is also charged with sex trafficking for himself.

By Yoon So-yeon
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