A man from South Korea is now facing the possibility of spending ten years in prison after reportedly attacking the CEO of the now-defunct cryptocurrency company, Haru Invest, as highlighted by local news sources.
Prosecutors in Seoul have sought a 10-year sentence for a man identified only by his last name, Kang, who is in his 50s and allegedly stabbed Haru Invest CEO Lee Hyung-soo during a court session last year.
In 2023, Haru Invest halted withdrawals, citing issues with its partners without providing additional details. In 2024, multiple executives from the firm were arrested on allegations of misappropriating $828 million from customer accounts.
Kang’s legal team contends that he did not intend to kill, arguing that he didn’t strike a vital area and acted out of extreme emotional turmoil after losing 100 BTC, valued at $8.3 million, due to the firm’s collapse.
His attorneys have requested that the charges be downgraded to aggravated assault instead of attempted murder, pointing to his significant financial and mental distress.
Before the hearing, local reports indicated that a Victims’ Association from Haru Invest held a press conference calling for Kang’s release. They claimed that victims of fraud like him were being treated unjustly while the executives accused of embezzling vast sums remained free on bail.
Kang is scheduled to return to court for sentencing on April 4.