Haru Invest CEO Stabbed in Court While Facing $826 Million Theft Charges
Local police apprehended the attacker. Photo by Sean Lee on Unsplash.
Key Takeaways
- Haru Invest CEO Hugo Hyungsoo Lee was stabbed during his fraud trial on Wednesday.
- The attacker is reported to be a victim of Haru’s $826M crypto fraud scandal.
- Lee is one of three Haru executives accused of diverting investor funds, leaving 16,000 victims out of pocket.
Although anger and frustration may be a natural response to being swindled, the recent courtroom attack on Haru Invest CEO Hugo Hyungsoo Lee underscores the dangerous extremes to which such emotions can lead.
According to local media accounts, Lee was stabbed repeatedly in the neck during his fraud trial on Wednesday, Aug. 28, by a suspected victim of the Haru scandal.
Haru Invest Victim Seeks Revenge
As reported by the Korean news outlet Digital Assets , the attack was carried out by a man known as Mr. Kang, who had been seated among a group of victims of Lee’s alleged embezzlement.
Following the incident, Lee was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was reported to be in stable condition. Mr. Kang was apprehended and taken into custody by the police.
The latest dramatic and violent turn has further ignited tensions in what was already an emotionally charged case.
The Haru CEO is accused of stealing $826 million worth of crypto from around 16,000 users of the yield platform. These users have been unable to withdraw crypto held on the platform since June 2023.
What Are the Allegations Against Haru?
According to prosecutors, Lee and other executives of Haru Invest lured investors with promises of up to 12% returns on their crypto investments, only to divert the funds for personal gain.
The alleged fraud has left thousands of investors facing significant financial losses, fueling widespread outrage and demands for justice.
As the investigation and trial have unfolded, evidence has pointed to a sophisticated scheme involving manipulating financial records and concealing funds in offshore accounts.
SEC Cracks Down on NovaTech’s $650M Crypto Ponzi Scheme For Defrauding 200,000 Investors
