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Chosun Ilbo investigations show that Ji Chung-ho (50) spent on average W1.27 million a month on his credit card even though he had no income besides welfare payouts since being paroled in August last year. Ji also never failed to pay cell phone bills that ranged between W130,000 and W320,000 a month until March after signing up at the end of last year. That raises the question where the money came from.

Ji got the credit card in November, three months after being released from prison. In December, he spent W1.45 million on the credit card and made more than W1 million worth of credit card purchases each month except in January. Last month, he maxed out by making W2 million worth of purchases on the card. He rarely missed payment on the credit card bill on the due date, the 25th of every month, except for once delaying payment for one day and once for two.

The suspect bought a top-end cell phone for W800,000 on a 12-month installment plan last October in his own name and made monthly phone bill payments of W130,000-320,000 including installments until March. However, Ji has not paid last month’s cell phone bill of W230,000.

Ji on Tuesday morning confirmed he was targeting GNP candidate for Seoul mayor Oh Se-hoon, prosecutors said. On his way to court for his arraignment on Tuesday, Ji asked reporters to “tell the public that I was wrong to do such a thing.” The court issued the arrest warrant and Ji was taken to a detention center in Youngdeungpo, Seoul.

Meanwhile, the court on the same day refused an arrest warrant for another man identified as Park (52) who caused a disturbance at the same election rally where Ji attacked the opposition leader. The court reasoned there was no risk Park would destroy evidence and presented no flight risk since he has a place of residence and is a breadwinner supporting two children.

(englishnews@chosun.com )