Sunken Ferry: S’Korean President Orders Arrest Of Owner

South Korea’s President Park Geun-hye has instructed prosecutors to speedily ensure the arrest of the de facto owner of the sunken ferry Sewol.
The ferry had sunk off the country’s south-western coast and left over 300 people dead or missing, while the de facto owner ran away after ignoring summons.
“The Yoo Byung-eon family who are the root cause of this disaster must repent before the people and lift the veil on it.

South Korea’s President Park Geun-hye has instructed prosecutors to speedily ensure the arrest of the de facto owner of the sunken ferry Sewol.
The ferry had sunk off the country’s south-western coast and left over 300 people dead or missing, while the de facto owner ran away after ignoring summons.
“The Yoo Byung-eon family who are the root cause of this disaster must repent before the people and lift the veil on it.
“But they are ridiculing the law and bringing public indignation upon themselves,” Park said during a cabinet meeting.
He said such an act by the Yoo family was a challenge to the society and a criminal act which could not be protected and shielded by anything.
Park also instructed the law enforcement authorities to make all-out efforts to apprehend them speedily and bring them to justice.
The ferry Sewol capsized and sank off the country’s south-western coast on April 16.
Now 42 days into the search for it, 288 people have been confirmed dead, with 16 others still missing.
No progress has been made in the search for the missing ferry since one body was recovered from the submerged hull on May 21.
Reports say Yoo and his children have been suspected of committing a host of illegal acts such as embezzlement, dereliction of duty and tax evasion.
They were under suspicions of transferring corporate funds to the family bank accounts, which led to lack of funds in the ferry operator Chonghaejin Marine.
This has caused lax safety practices, such as the inveterate overloading.
Yoo, who is believed to have controlled the ferry operator, and his family were summoned by prosecutors several times, but they have ignored the summons.
However, arrest warrants were issued for Yoo’s second son and eldest daughter, who were staying abroad and the eldest son have been placed on the most wanted list.
Prosecutors have offered a bounty of $490,000 for Yoo, the highest amount in the country’s history.