Prosecutors Seek 10-Year Sentence for Attacker of Haru Invest CEO

The prosecution in South Korea has requested a 10-year prison sentence for Lee Hyun-soo, the CEO of Haru Invest, after a man attempted to murder him by inflicting knife wounds. Local news sources have reported this information.

The attack on the head of the cryptocurrency firm, who is accused of embezzling approximately $826 million from clients, occurred in August 2024 during a court session. The assailant, identified by the surname Kang, used a 20-centimeter knife as the weapon.

«The defendant intended to kill the victim and approached him from behind during the hearing, delivering multiple stabs, but ultimately it resulted in an attempted murder,» stated the presiding judge in the Kang case.

The defense argued that since the defendant did not deliver a fatal blow, it indicated he had no intention of committing murder. The attorneys also sought leniency, citing that Kang suffered «significant losses» due to the suspension of withdrawals by Haru Invest, as the company had not returned his roughly 100 BTC (approximately $8.3 million).

Prosecutors contended that the defendant had premeditated and planned the assault in advance.

A verdict for Kang is expected on April 4.

Meanwhile, the executives of Haru Invest, who face charges related to fraud and other offenses, were arrested in February 2024. They have since been released on bail.

It is worth noting that the company halted the withdrawal of funds in June 2023, citing issues with service partners.