logo
#

Latest news with #indictment

South Korea's ousted President Yoon indicted on additional criminal charges over martial law
South Korea's ousted President Yoon indicted on additional criminal charges over martial law

Yahoo

time11 hours ago

  • Politics
  • Yahoo

South Korea's ousted President Yoon indicted on additional criminal charges over martial law

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea's ousted conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol was indicted Saturday on additional criminal charges related to his ill-fated imposition of martial law, about three months after he was formally thrown out of office. Yoon's additional indictments mean he will remain in jail for up to six months as he faces a trial at the Seoul Central District Court on his Dec. 3 martial law declaration that plunged South Korea into huge political turmoil. Yoon was sent back to prison last week after the Seoul court approved his arrest warrant requested by a team of investigators headed by independent counsel Cho Eun-suk. Cho's team indicted Yoon on abuse of power that obstructed the rights of some of his Cabinet members. The charge was imposed because Yoon summoned only select Cabinet members to approve his emergency martial law when South Korean law requires approval of all Cabinet members for such a measure, Park Ji-young, a senior investigator at Cho's team, told a briefing. Park said Yoon was also charged with fabricating an official document in an attempt to satisfy a formal requirement for a martial law declaration before he eventually destroyed it. State prosecutors have already indicted Yoon on other criminal charges including masterminding a rebellion, a grave charge whose conviction carries only two sentences — capital punishment or life imprisonment. After declaring martial law, Yoon sent troops and police officers to the opposition-controlled National Assembly, but enough lawmakers managed to enter an assembly chamber and voted down his decree, forcing his Cabinet to lift it. Yoon was later impeached by the assembly, with some of his ruling party lawmakers also voting to suspend his presidential powers. Yoon has argued his decree was a desperate attempt to draw public support of his fight against the 'wickedness' of the main liberal opposition Democratic Party, which had obstructed his agenda, impeached top officials and slashed the government's budget bill. He earlier called the National Assembly 'a den of criminals' and 'anti-state forces.' In January, Yoon was arrested by state prosecutors. But in March, he was released from prison after a judge at the Seoul district court canceled his arrest to allow him to stand trial without being held in custody. In April, the Constitutional Court formally dismissed Yoon as president, prompting a snap election to choose his successor. After winning that election, new President Lee Jae Myung, a former Democratic Party leader, approved legislation to launch independent investigations to uncover fuller details of Yoon's martial law stunt and delve into other criminal allegations involving his wife and administration. Lee named Cho an independent counsel to lead an investigation on Yoon's martial law decree. In May, state prosecutors indicted Yoon on charges of abusing power and forcing soldiers and police officers to try to seal the assembly and election offices, acts that are not part of their duties. Solve the daily Crossword

Christine Hunsicker, CEO of a Bankrupt Fashion Tech Startup, Charged for Alleged $300M Fraud Scheme
Christine Hunsicker, CEO of a Bankrupt Fashion Tech Startup, Charged for Alleged $300M Fraud Scheme

Yahoo

time14 hours ago

  • Business
  • Yahoo

Christine Hunsicker, CEO of a Bankrupt Fashion Tech Startup, Charged for Alleged $300M Fraud Scheme

NEED TO KNOW Christine Hunsicker allegedly ran a fraud scheme that raked in over $300 million for her now-bankrupt fashion tech startup The CaaStle founder and CEO was charged with wire fraud, securities fraud, money laundering, making false statements to a financial institution and aggravated identity theft Hunsicker pleaded not guilty to all chargesChristine Hunsicker, the founder and CEO of fashion tech startup CaaStle, has been indicted on fraud-related charges after she allegedly defrauded investors out of more than $300 million. In an indictment unsealed on Friday, July 18, more details tied to Hunsicker's alleged fraud scheme, which raised money for both CaaStle, a clothing-rental company, and another venture, P180, were revealed, according to the office of the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York. Through the alleged scheme, Hunsicker, 48, defrauded CaaStle and P180 investors out of more than $300 million 'through false statements, misleading claims, and fabricated documents,' according to the attorney's office. The newly unsealed indictment charges the New Jersey native and Princeton University alum with wire fraud and securities fraud, as well as money laundering, making false statements to a financial institution and aggravated identity theft. Hunsicker self-surrendered on July 18. Later that same day, she pleaded not guilty to all charges, according to the Associated Press. In a statement obtained by PEOPLE, the entrepreneur's lawyers, Michael Levy and Anna Skotko, said, "There is much more to this story.' "Although Ms. Hunsicker has been fully cooperative and transparent with both the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of NY and the SEC, they nonetheless have chosen to present to the public an incomplete and very distorted picture in today's indictment,' they continued. 'There is much more to this story, and we look forward to telling it," the lawyers' statement added. While CaaStle — which filed for bankruptcy in June — was in 'financial distress with limited cash and significant expenses,' Hunsicker allegedly 'grossly overstated' its financial situation, instead promoting the venture as a 'rapidly growing business valued at more than $1.4 billion,' according to the attorney's office. She used falsified statements, bank records and other documents to do so, the indictment alleges. One fake bank account screenshot, which Hunsicker allegedly provided to an investor, showed that CaaStle had nearly $200 million in available cash, the attorney's office said. At the time, the real figure was less than $200,000. Hunsicker kept up the scheme even after she was 'confronted' over providing an investor with a fake audit in October 2023, claiming it was a 'one-time error,' the attorney's office alleges. She had actually provided two fake audits to the investor, the office claims, and later repaid them 'to prevent the public disclosure of her fraud.' The scheme included not only false bank statements and audits, but also falsified signatures, the attorney's office claims. In 2024, the entrepreneur allegedly forged a board director signature to raise more than $20 million for CaaStle. Around the same time, Hunsicker formed P180 to infuse CaaStle with cash before her fraud scheme came to life, and used 'false information about CaaStle's success to raise approximately $30 million' for the new venture, per the attorney's office. She also allegedly provided false information to obtain a personal bank loan of $20 million. is now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! In total, Hunsicker raked in more than $275 million in investments through her fraudulent behavior — which continued even after CaaStle 'prohibited her from soliciting investments' and 'after law enforcement agents seized her electronic devices' earlier this year, according to the attorney's office. Hunsicker faces one count of wire fraud, one count of money laundering and two counts of securities fraud, which carry maximum prison sentences of 20 years a piece. Making false statements to a financial institution, for which she faces one count, carries an even longer maximum sentence of 30 years. Aggravated identity theft, meanwhile, carries a mandatory prison sentence of two years. Read the original article on People Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data

The man who knows everything about Netanyahu: If Urich falls, everything comes crashing down
The man who knows everything about Netanyahu: If Urich falls, everything comes crashing down

Yahoo

time15 hours ago

  • Politics
  • Yahoo

The man who knows everything about Netanyahu: If Urich falls, everything comes crashing down

Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara has recommended indicting Prime Minister Netanyahu's advisor, Yonatan Urich, for leaking information to a German newspaper. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday lashed out at Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara's decision to recommend charging his close advisor, Yonatan Urich, for the leak of sensitive documents to the German tabloid Bild. "The decision to prosecute Urich is disastrous and raises questions,' Netanyahu said. 'A disgraceful statement from the attorney-general. I know the details, and I say, he did not harm national security." Dozens of people have worked in Netanyahu's office over the cumulative 17 years he has served as prime minister. Advisors have come and gone. Some became state witnesses, including Nir Hefetz, Ari Harow, and Shlomo Filber (who signed as a state witness and later regretted it). Those who were not involved left the office in anger, but only a few left intact, without being indicted or harboring hard feelings. But of all those who came and went, Netanyahu, a man devoid of emotion, who believed that everyone was born to serve him, truly loved and valued only two: Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and Yonatan Urich. 'Urich and Dermer are like the sons Netanyahu wanted to have,' said a source who worked in the Prime Minister's Office for many years. "He is a man who distrusts everyone and is paranoid that everyone wants to bring him down. But he trusts these two almost completely. They were exposed to nearly everything—they knew the secrets, the schemes, everything. Urich was aware of every political and media move. He was intimately familiar with every campaign, both official and unofficial, as well as every vendetta. Dermer is the de facto foreign minister, liaison to the US administration, and someone Netanyahu completely trusts on the most sensitive political and military matters." But as the cliché goes, Netanyahu is like the sun: when you get too close, you burn. Urich began working with Netanyahu in 2015. Yoav Ben-Tzur, who worked with Netanyahu at the time, convinced him to join after Topaz Luk, who knew Urich from their service in the IDF Spokesperson's Unit, recommended him. His skills quickly became apparent: a digital expert, Urich opened Netanyahu's eyes to the world of social networks. He charmed Netanyahu by giving him the ability to engage directly with the public on Facebook and later on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok, without having to use the media, which Netanyahu despised, as an intermediary. Urich is a very talented man: creative, sharp, and up-to-date. However, he is also unrestrained. He doesn't see limitations. He initiated and navigated harsh campaigns against political rivals, with no red lines. Ask Benny Gantz: he could write a series of books about the nightmare he went through, especially during election periods when he was a real threat to Netanyahu's rule; the prime minister's propaganda machine - with Urich playing a central role - attacked Gantz, even below the belt. Yonatan Urich's involvement in Netanyahu's affairs Urich's entanglement didn't begin yesterday, with the potential indictment for the leak to the Bild. It started much earlier. On February 11, 2025, the prosecution decided to indict Urich, Ofer Golan, and Srulik Einhorn for harassing Shlomo Filber, the state witness in Cases 1000, 2000, and 4000. According to the indictment, in 2019, the three conspired to harass Filber regarding his testimony in Case 4000. They rented a car with a loudspeaker system and sent two of their people to Filber's home, where they were heard shouting things like: 'Momo, be a man, go and tell the truth! What did they do to you to get you to go against the prime minister? What did they promise you? The left is using you to bring down Likud!' and more. This, as mentioned, was Urish's first noted involvement. The second came last night. In a statement from the attorney-general's office, it was stated that 'the State Prosecutor's Office informed Yonatan Urich, the Prime Minister's close advisor, that the Attorney-General and State Prosecutor are considering indicting him for criminal charges, subject to a hearing, in the'Bild' case on the grounds of security violations, including leaking classified information with intent to harm national security, possessing classified information, and destroying evidence.' 'According to the allegations," continued the statement, "Urich, together with Eli Feldstein, took highly classified information from the IDF's systems that, if exposed by Urich, could have endangered national security and lives. The release of the classified information was intended, among other things, to influence public perception of the prime minister and skew the discourse regarding the murder of six hostages in August 2024.' Minutes after the statement, Urich's attorneys, Amit Hadad and Noa Milstein, responded: 'Yonatan Urich denies all allegations against him. He never possessed or leaked classified information and certainly did not harm national security. This is an absurd set of allegations arriving at an inconvenient time, and his innocence will be proven beyond any doubt.' However, the third, most severe case for Urich is still pending: the Qatargate case. Urich is suspected of receiving payment from a Qatar-funded company to act from within the Prime Minister's Office in order to advance Qatar's interests, such as portraying it as a peace-seeking and dominant country, in contrast to Egypt. According to a Haaretz exposé, Urich worked for the Qatari government prior to the World Cup to improve its image, which had been criticized internationally for being a dictatorial state. This is the biggest criminal case against Urich, and Netanyahu has gone to great lengths to help him. In a video released of Netanyahu, the prime minister is seen nearly exploding with rage, saying: "The police are conducting a political campaign against him. This is a political investigation, a political move. Other than that, there's nothing. They are trying to prevent the firing of the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) chief. The investigation is intended to bring down a right-wing prime minister." Urich's detention has been extended repeatedly. He was interrogated multiple times, placed under house arrest, and then returned to detention. The investigation has been ongoing for months. Netanyahu is angry. Beyond his personal concern and the lack of media presence, Netanyahu knows something else: Urich knows everything. Urich had been close to him for years, and it was not a good idea to anger him. To avoid angering him and to show him that he's not alone and that he has complete backing, senior staff from the PMO were sent to the detention extensions. Everyone showed up to ensure that Urich didn't become a state witness against the boss. In April, Nir Hefetz, Netanyahu's former communications advisor, said: "Urich is the man who knows everything about Netanyahu. If this brick crumbles, the whole wall will collapse. Urich is a weak man, and Netanyahu knows exactly what he says to their mutual lawyer, Amit Hadad." He added: "Qatargate is the reason for the acceleration of the judicial overhaul in recent weeks: firing Ronen Bar, the process of ousting the attorney-general, and changing the makeup of the committee for selecting judges. Netanyahu is trying to stop the Qatargate investigation, and he knows why." And Urich? He remained silent. Recently released from house arrest, he occasionally tweeted, as usual, singing Netanyahu's praises. He remains loyal, an admirer. From time to time, he sends media advice to the office, which is now left without him, professionally abandoned. So, what will happen to Urich after the second indictment, pending the hearing? The answer is: nothing. It doesn't bother Netanyahu. Urich is not a state employee; he is an independent contractor who submits invoices for his services. As long as Netanyahu remains in power, he will continue to employ him, regardless of whether there are two indictments or 10. Law violations? Indictments? That hasn't bothered Netanyahu in years. The only thing that matters to him is that Urich stays close, doesn't speak against him, and most importantly, continues helping him. Because in the months he has been absent, anyone who understands communications within the office, in the surrounding environment, and in the system understands how crucial Urich was to the media activities in the most important office in the country. Solve the daily Crossword

South Korea's ousted President Yoon indicted on additional criminal charges over martial law
South Korea's ousted President Yoon indicted on additional criminal charges over martial law

CTV News

time19 hours ago

  • Politics
  • CTV News

South Korea's ousted President Yoon indicted on additional criminal charges over martial law

Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, centerm arrives at a court to attend a hearing to review his arrest warrant requested by special prosecutors in Seoul, South Korea Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (Kim Hong-Ji/Pool Photo via AP) SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea's ousted conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol was indicted Saturday on additional criminal charges related to his ill-fated imposition of martial law, about three months after he was formally thrown out of office. Yoon's additional indictments mean he will remain in jail for up to six months as he faces a trial at the Seoul Central District Court on his Dec. 3 martial law declaration that plunged South Korea into huge political turmoil. Yoon was sent back to prison last week after the Seoul court approved his arrest warrant requested by a team of investigators headed by independent counsel Cho Eun-suk. Cho's team indicted Yoon on abuse of power that obstructed the rights of some of his Cabinet members. The charge was imposed because Yoon summoned only select Cabinet members to approve his emergency martial law when South Korean law requires approval of all Cabinet members for such a measure, Park Ji-young, a senior investigator at Cho's team, told a briefing. Park said Yoon was also charged with fabricating an official document in an attempt to satisfy a formal requirement for a martial law declaration before he eventually destroyed it. State prosecutors have already indicted Yoon on other criminal charges including masterminding a rebellion, a grave charge whose conviction carries only two sentences — capital punishment or life imprisonment. After declaring martial law, Yoon sent troops and police officers to the opposition-controlled National Assembly, but enough lawmakers managed to enter an assembly chamber and voted down his decree, forcing his Cabinet to lift it. Yoon was later impeached by the assembly, with some of his ruling party lawmakers also voting to suspend his presidential powers. Yoon has argued his decree was a desperate attempt to draw public support of his fight against the 'wickedness' of the main liberal opposition Democratic Party, which had obstructed his agenda, impeached top officials and slashed the government's budget bill. He earlier called the National Assembly 'a den of criminals' and 'anti-state forces.' In January, Yoon was arrested by state prosecutors. But in March, he was released from prison after a judge at the Seoul district court canceled his arrest to allow him to stand trial without being held in custody. In April, the Constitutional Court formally dismissed Yoon as president, prompting a snap election to choose his successor. After winning that election, new President Lee Jae Myung, a former Democratic Party leader, approved legislation to launch independent investigations to uncover fuller details of Yoon's martial law stunt and delve into other criminal allegations involving his wife and administration. Lee named Cho an independent counsel to lead an investigation on Yoon's martial law decree. In May, state prosecutors indicted Yoon on charges of abusing power and forcing soldiers and police officers to try to seal the assembly and election offices, acts that are not part of their duties. Hyung-jin Kim, The Associated Press

Former South Korea president Yoon indicted again as martial law investigation continues
Former South Korea president Yoon indicted again as martial law investigation continues

Arab News

timea day ago

  • Politics
  • Arab News

Former South Korea president Yoon indicted again as martial law investigation continues

SEOUL: South Korea's jailed ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol was indicted on additional charges on Saturday as a special prosecutor continues investigating him for his short-lived declaration of martial law in December. The new charges include obstruction of the exercise of others' rights by abuse of authority, ordering the deletion of records and blocking the execution of arrest warrants, the prosecutor's office said in a briefing. Yoon has been on trial on charges of insurrection, which is punishable by death or life imprisonment, facing additional charges since the special prosecutor was appointed in June to take over the cases against him. Yoon has denied all wrongdoing. His lawyers did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the new charges. The impeached and deposed former leader has been jailed at Seoul Detention Center since earlier this month, and a court earlier this week rejected his request to be freed from detention.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store