Police investigating the unauthorised microbilling case involving KT have identified a Chinese national suspected of directing the operation.

The Cyber Investigation Unit of the Gyeonggi Nambu Police Agency said on December 8 it identified the Chinese Korean man known as A, who had been pointed to as the ringleader, and requested an Interpol red notice for him.

A is known as the main suspect in a case in which phones of KT users living in certain apartment complexes in the Seoul metropolitan area were hacked in August and September, causing microbilling losses.

He is accused of ordering Chinese Korean B, age 48, to load illegal base station equipment into a vehicle and drive around the apartment areas, then hacking KT users’ phones in unknown ways to make small payments such as buying mobile gift certificates and topping up transport cards.

Police say the case has so far caused losses of about 140 million won among 220 victims. B, who was arrested on September 16, claimed he carried out the scheme under A’s instructions from China in return for 5 million won.

Police said they identified A based on B’s statements and evidence gathered. They believe A is in China and requested a red notice from Interpol.

A police official said they identified A in early October but did not disclose it due to the need for investigative confidentiality.

Police have confirmed A’s identity but face hurdles. They said his being a Chinese national in China makes arrest difficult, as they must rely on Chinese authorities to detain and hand him over, a scenario viewed as unlikely.

They added that even if A is arrested and brought to South Korea, it could take time to determine the full scope of the crime if he is not the ringleader. Police said other accomplices may exist or A may be a lower-level member of an organised group.

Police said they have arrested 13 people and detained five since launching the investigation. They include four involved in operating illegal base station equipment, three in microbilling and money laundering, five who provided phone accounts, and one linked to crime-related bank accounts. Most are South Korean, with some, including B, being Chinese nationals of Korean descent.

A police official said it is not yet clear whether the ringleader for all those handling illegal base station equipment is the same person and added that more investigation into accomplices is needed.

The official added that analysis of the illegal base station equipment is under way and that results will be assessed once all verification is complete.

[Yonhap]