The ongoing propofol abuse case that involves three kdrama actresses, Lee Seung Yeon, Park Si Yeon and Jang Mi In Ae, is focused on a new indictment. This time it's Lee Seung Yeon's manager, Mr. Lee.
The three actresses were charged with abusing the drug that was implicated in the death of superstar Michael Jackson. Park Si Yeon was charged with using the drug 185 times in two years, Lee Seung Yeon was said to use it 111 times in a year and Jang Mi In Ae 95 times. All three denied using the drug for any reasons other than those prescribed.
The case has now been further complicated with the indictment of Lee Seung Yeon's manager. He was not indicted with abusing the drug but for demanding that the medical center where Lee Seung Yeon was treated destroy all of her records.
The eighth hearing in the case took place in Seoul Central District Court on July 15. At the trial, the medical center's director Mr. Ahn testified against Mr. Lee.
"After Lee Seung Yeon's case began, her manager Mr. Lee demanded that we get rid of her treatment history," said Mr. Ahn.
When Mr. Lee asked that the records be deleted, he explained the damage that the case could have on Lee Seung Yeon's career. He said that Lee Seung Yeon had finally made a comeback after going through a difficult scandal. The actress tried to raise awareness of the plight of World War II comfort women with a nude photo shoot that received negative feedback. The propofol court case could ruin her career.
The lawyer for Lee Seung Yeon's manager denied this testimony, saying they never requested that any documents be destroyed. But a hospital employee confirmed that Mr. Lee had indeed asked medical center employees to destroy Lee Seung Yeon's records. And he asked that they destroy Park Si Yeon's treatment history too.
But the employee, Mr. Yoo, also said that he never saw either actress at the hospital and had no evidence of either actress being addicted to propofol.
The drug is abused because users experience euphoria and hallucinations. Lee Seung Yeon and Jang Mi In Ae say they used the drug to relieve the pain they experienced after skin care treatments at the center.
Park Si Yeon claimed that her doctor prescribed the narcotic drug to ease the pain she experienced due to a rare bone condition caused by on-set injuries. The doctor who prescribed the drug for her originally said she was addicted but later retracted his statement and apologized to her.
