It’s 4,700 miles from the Big Island to Yuseong Gu, South Korea, the residence of Kyoung Sun Yoo, who told investigators he won’t be coming back to Hawaii to face three felony charges. ADVERTISING It’s 4,700 miles from the Big
It’s 4,700 miles from the Big Island to Yuseong Gu, South Korea, the residence of Kyoung Sun Yoo, who told investigators he won’t be coming back to Hawaii to face three felony charges.
It remains unclear how his departure could have been prevented, if it’s even possible.
Yoo is accused of stabbing a South Korean man and injuring a woman during an incident Jan. 27 at the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel. He then left the island after he posted bond.
That’s because a prosecutor’s office cannot stop or hold someone’s visa or passport, according to first deputy prosecuting attorney Dale Ross.
Such a matter would lie with the federal government, she said.
And Yoo never made it to any judge before taking off.
After Yoo’s arrest, police investigated and conferred with the on-duty prosecutor. The prosecutor elected to charge Yoo with first-degree assault, first-degree terroristic threatening and family abuse.
Conferring with the bond schedule set by the court, the prosecutor set the initial bail at $8,000.
After that is set, it can only be changed by a judge, said Chris Loos, spokeswoman for the Hawaii Police Department.
Hawaii law requires that a person be in front of a judge within two days, if they remain in custody, to hear the charges against them and enter a plea.
At that hearing the defense and prosecution may argue for an alteration of bail.
At that time the prosecution can argue that someone be held without bail under a number of conditions, including if there is a “serious risk the person can flee.”
But posting a bond changes the court schedule.
Yoo, accused of stabbing a male victim and injuring a female, never went before a judge, as he posted the $8,000 himself, avoiding any restrictions that a bail bond company might place.
He’s due in court this month, but already missed one scheduled hearing where attorneys relayed the information that Yoo said he doesn’t plan to come back.
As far as what’s next in Yoo’s case, that will be seen at the next hearing.
“I’m just trying to bring him to trial,” said deputy prosecuting attorney Britt Bailey, who is handling the case.
Email Graham Milldrum at gmilldrum@westhawaiitoday.com.
