[Anchor]
A man who was dubbed the "Suwon drug zombie" after a video of him standing hunched over with his arms hanging limp spread across social media is now facing an arrest warrant hearing. Methamphetamine was also seized from his residence, but the man denies drug charges, claiming he had taken medication prescribed by a psychiatrist.
Reporter Dong Eunyeong has the details.
[Reporter]
A police transport vehicle enters the courthouse.
A warrant evaluation hearing was held today (September 9) for the man dubbed the "Suwon zombie."
A video of the man in his 30s, identified as Mr. A, staggering with his arms dangling near a bus stop in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, last June, spread via social media.
Because his appearance resembled addicts roaming around the United States under the influence of fentanyl, the video was circulated under the title "Suwon Drug Zombie."
After tracking down Mr. A, police conducted a preliminary drug test that yielded a positive result for methamphetamine, leading to his emergency arrest. However, subsequent urine tests came back negative, resulting in his release after just one day.
However, hair follicle tests once again tested positive for narcotics, and police also secured a small amount of methamphetamine contained in a plastic bag at Mr. A's home through a search and seizure operation.
When applying for the arrest warrant for Mr. A today, police charged him with possession of methamphetamine and receiving and administering psychotropic substances from an acquaintance.
Mr. A reportedly admitted to taking muscle injections because he felt unwell while taking psychiatric medication and sharing psychotropic drugs with an acquaintance, but he denies the charges of administering methamphetamine.
Police plan to continue investigating how he acquired the drugs once they secure his custody.
(Cameraतः Jang Woon-seok, Video Editing: Jeong Yong-hwa)
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