Seoul — The CEO of Haru Invest, a South Korean cryptocurrency deposit service facing legal troubles, was stabbed while attending his fraud trial at the Seoul Southern District Court on Wednesday.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the CEO, identified only by his surname Lee, was attacked in the neck by a man in his 50s and subsequently hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. The police have apprehended the assailant on charges of attempted murder and are currently investigating his motives. The incident raises concerns about courtroom security, as the attacker managed to bypass metal detectors with a knife.

Lee was indicted on fraud charges in February following Haru Invest's suspension of withdrawals, which affected about 1.4 trillion won (US$1.08 billion) in customer deposits from March 2020 to June 2023. The company's decision had left numerous investors without access to their funds. Despite the gravity of the charges, Lee was released on parole last month after being initially arrested in February. The case has drawn significant public attention, with many affected investors attending the trial sessions.