WAIMEA — The South Korean man accused of stabbing a man and injuring a woman on Jan. 27 at the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel told investigators he would not be returning to Hawaii, the prosecutor said during the suspect’s first
WAIMEA — The South Korean man accused of stabbing a man and injuring a woman on Jan. 27 at the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel told investigators he would not be returning to Hawaii, the prosecutor said during the suspect’s first scheduled appearance.
That, obviously, complicated the alleged attacker’s initial appearance, scheduled for Tuesday. At the hearing, Kyong Sun Yoo would have heard the charges against him, entered a plea and possibly been assigned a public defender.
But no attorney appeared for Yoo, 59, of Yuseong Gu, South Korea, who is charged with first-degree assault, first-degree terroristic threatening and family abuse.
Both victims are South Korean nationals.
After Yoo’s arrest the bond was set, according to the bail schedule established by the courts. It totalled $8,000, which Yoo posted himself.
The bond receipt told him to appear in court on March 3 in Kailua-Kona, which was incorrect in date and location. It was updated and he was advised of the change, said Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Britt Bailey.
But it also muddied things around the case.
“I’m a little concerned about the notice, counsel. This is not the clearest record,” Judge Andrew P. Wilson said Tuesday.
Court staff reported they had received a call from John Kim of the South Korean Consulate, who said Yoo would not be present for Tuesday’s hearing. Yoo returned to South Korean after posting bond.
Bailey said Yoo informed a detective that he would not be returning to Hawaii at all.
She ultimately requested a continuance to allow Yoo to appear, which Wilson granted.
He set it at 10 a.m. March 22 at the South Kohala Court, and advised Bailey to prepare for a bond forfeiture hearing and possible warrant.
A standard bail condition is that the defendant may not leave the island without prior permission of the judge. Judges have granted permission to allow for family visits, medical treatment and business. Court records do not show any consultation with a judge for Yoo.
As a South Korean national, he would have needed to acquire a visa from the United States Consulate to enter the country.
But an agreement including South Korea and the U.S. allows their nationals to go through an electronic system for approval or denial.
This saves time and a trip to the consulate for an interview with a consular officer.
Kim has told West Hawaii Today the office is relaying information to Yoo, but is remaining out of the legal proceedings.
Since there is an ongoing investigation and visa records are confidential, Julia Mason of the State Department directed questions about the visa to the Department of Homeland Security. The DHS did not return a request for comment.
The two nations do have a mutual extradition treaty, signed in 1998.
It was not clear at press time what further actions the county would take, as a message left with Bailey was not returned.
