A lawyer has claimed that the chances of reopening the investigation and apprehending the suspect in the late Hara's safe theft case are high.
On the YTN Radio show 'Lawyer Lee Won Hwa’s Case X File' broadcast on June 26, lawyers Lee Won Hwa and Ahn Kwang Hwi of Law & Liberty Law Firm discussed the case of the late Goo Hara's safe theft.
The broadcast explained that on January 14, 2020, at around 12:15 AM, an unidentified man broke into Goo Hara’s house and stole a safe three days after her 49th day memorial service.
When asked about the possibility of the perpetrator being someone known to Goo Hara, lawyer Ahn Kwang Hwi said, “The perpetrator was likely an acquaintance. However, some argue that the perpetrator could have been hired by someone.”
Ahn further explained, “The suspect in the video couldn’t even activate the number pad on the digital door lock and gave up trying to press the buttons too quickly. The door lock at Goo Hara’s residence had a heat sensor that required broad contact with the screen for the number pad to appear. It’s suggested that the suspect tried to enter the password but gave up because they didn’t know how to operate the digital door lock.”
Ahn also discussed why the case remains unsolved, saying, “An unsolved status doesn’t mean the investigation is closed. If new evidence is found, the investigation can be reopened. The police conducted a thorough investigation, including statements from relevant individuals, site inspections, and CCTV reviews, but could not identify a suspect. The video submitted by the victim wasn’t enough to identify the suspect, and there were no records on nearby CCTVs at the time of the incident.”
He also mentioned the potential connection between Goo Hara’s safe theft case and the Burning Sun scandal, stating, “Recently, a BBC documentary on the Burning Sun incident revealed that Goo Hara played a hidden role in exposing the collusion between the police and Burning Sun. This has brought the safe theft case back into public discussion. With the organized efforts to cover up the Burning Sun case coming to light, there are suspicions that the theft might have been a crime aimed at silencing evidence related to Burning Sun.”
Moreover, Ahn predicted a high possibility that the police would reinvestigate Goo Hara’s safe theft case. He stated, “Goo Hara’s brother mentioned that her iPhone's password still hasn’t been unlocked. The lawyer for Goo Hara’s family also said that if new evidence is secured, the investigation could be resumed.”
Ahn also expressed confidence in apprehending the suspect, saying, “I believe it’s possible. With the rapid advancement of investigative techniques in South Korea and tips from the public, the suspect can be caught. There have been cases in the past where suspects were apprehended based on tips, so I think it’s entirely possible. This case involves nighttime residential burglary, which falls under the crime of nighttime residential burglary under criminal law. The statute of limitations is 10 years, so there are 5 to 6 years left, making it possible to catch the suspect.”
Finally, Ahn predicted the punishment for the suspect, stating, “The suspect will likely be charged with nighttime residential burglary, which carries a prison sentence. If it was a solo act, I expect at least five years of imprisonment. If the suspect provides testimony related to the Burning Sun scandal, the scope of the investigation could widen, potentially adding new suspects.”
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