Son fears for safety of his wife, children

The Saipan-based son of Byung Deuk Lee, a 73-year-old Korean businessman allegedly diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and kept away from the rest of his family, has expressed concern for the safety of his wife and children.

In his declaration dated Feb. 4, 2016, Sang Hun Lee, 35, stated that he is also very concerned for the safety and wellbeing of his father.

Attorney David Banes filed San Hun Lee’s declaration in Superior Court to support a motion for temporary restraining order.

On Tuesday, Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho denied the request of Byung Deuk Lee’s wife, Koom Nye Kim, and their son, Sang Hun Lee, to issue a TRO to stop the elder Lee from handling the businesses on Saipan because he was losing his mind.

Sang Hun Lee said that, the morning of Feb. 4, 2016, his wife called him several times, saying that his cousin has been at their house in Garapan, knocking repeatedly on the door.

Sang Hun Lee and his mother, Koom Nye Kim, are suing Ji Sook Lee, who allegedly removed Byung Deuk Lee from a hospital in South Korea, where he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, kept him away from his family, then traveled to Saipan to control all of his businesses and property.

Ji Sook Lee is the half-sister of Sang Hun Lee and Young Shin Lee.

Sang Hun Lee claimed that he is a member of LC Rental Company LLC, and an officer of China Yanbian Foreign Economic & Technical Cooperation Corp.

Sang Hun Lee said his father has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and other cognitive and memory impairments.

He said his father was hospitalized several times in 2015, but disappeared from the hospital in South Korea, where he was receiving care in November 2015.

Sang Hun Lee said that, on Feb. 3, 2016, he heard that his father had arrived on Saipan.

He said it was his father’s first trip to the island after being removed from the Gimpo Hannuri Hospital against medical advice in November 2015.

San Hun Lee said in the morning of Feb. 4, 2016, he saw his father with defendant Ji Sook Lee, Ho Joon Joo, and his father’s sister, entering Bank of Hawaii on Saipan.

According to San Hun Lee, Ho Joon Joo, an officer of the Korean Association, obtained powers of attorney for his father. He said his father did not understand the powers of attorney, could not remember signing it, and later revoked it.

San Hun Lee said that last month, defendant Ji Sook Lee showed up on Saipan with a document titled “Power of Attorney” that purported to give her broad authority over his father’s business, including authority that his father does not actually have.

San Hun Lee said he is worried that his half-sister/defendant Ji Sook Lee and Ho Joon Joo are trying to take control of his father’s bank accounts of China Yanbian, a corporation owed by his parents.

San Hun Lee also alleged that his half-sister Ji Sook Lee has been taking money from restaurants owned by China Yanbian and money from tenants of a property maintained by LC Rental Company since her arrival on Saipan.

He said his half-sister has not issued receipts on paid bills, made any mortgage payments, or deposited any money in China Yanbian’s accounts.

China Yanbian owns Seoul One Korean Restaurant and Shinsen Japanese Restaurant.

Attorney Robert T. Torres, counsel for Byung Deuk Lee, presented at the hearing on Tuesday a Jan. 13, 2016, medical report showing that Lee has a mild cognitive impairment, and which would improve with medication.