Lawyer arrested after skipping detention hearing in 300 million won embezzlement case

A lawyer accused of embezzling 300 million won ($199,000) was indicted while in detention after prosecutors arrested the suspect following a two-day stakeout.

The lawyer was indicted and detained Tuesday on charges including embezzlement, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office said on Thursday.

The lawyer is accused of misappropriating 300 million won in escrow funds held by a third-party financial institution.

Prosecutors, however, sought an arrest warrant after determining that the lawyer had allegedly reoffended despite already standing trial on a similar charge.

The lawyer failed to appear for a scheduled pretrial detention hearing and went into hiding, but was arrested after a two-day stakeout.   

The prosecutor and investigators tracked the lawyer's movements and located the hiding place by analyzing surveillance camera footage, credit card transactions and phone records.

The court later issued an arrest warrant, citing concerns that the lawyer posed a flight risk.

During questioning, prosecutors also obtained a confession related to a separate case under investigation by police. They shared the statement with police.

"We will continue to conduct thorough and persistent supplementary investigations to uncover the truth of the case and do our utmost to ensure that victims can recover their losses as quickly and effectively as possible," the prosecution said.

BY JUNG SI-NAE [kim.hayoon1@joongang.co.kr]