Friday, December 06, 2002
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

More bad checks allegations

Woman who accused Celine Dion's husband of rape faces possible charges in Louisiana

Yun Kyeong Kwon Sung appears in Las Vegas Justice Court in May on bad check charges. Similar charges are pending in Louisiana. REVIEW-JOURNAL FILE PHOTO

The woman who accused singer Celine Dion's husband of sexual assault, already charged with felony theft in Clark County, is suspected of passing bad checks worth about $100,000 at a Louisiana casino.

Clark County prosecutor Dan Ahlstrom said he was told Louisiana authorities intend to pursue charges against Yun Kyeong Kwon Sung, 46, of Pasadena, Calif.

"They are pursuing her on checks passed at a gaming establishment," Ahlstrom said.

Sung already is charged with felony theft in Las Vegas amid allegations she passed four bad checks at Harrah's Las Vegas in May 2001. Ahlstrom said Thursday that Sung has failed to pay back any of more than $500,000 in restitution owed to Harrah's in the Las Vegas case.

"She's done nothing under the terms of our agreement for restitution," said Ahlstrom.

As a result, Ahlstrom said authorities now plan to take Sung to trial.

"Either she is going to step up and plead guilty or she is going to go to trial on those charges," Ahlstrom said.

Sung identifies herself in court records as a Pasadena housewife. She made international news in March when she sued Celine Dion's husband, Rene Angelil, alleging he sexually assaulted Sung at the Imperial Palace in March 2000.

Reached at her California home Thursday, Sung declined comment on the investigation in Louisiana or her case in Southern Nevada. Las Vegas attorney Joseph Hong, who represents Sung in the civil lawsuit against Angelil, also declined comment Thursday.

But Angelil's attorney, David Chesnoff, seized on word that Sung is under investigation in another case.

"If that is accurate, it is just another example of her lack of credibility," Chesnoff said.

Sung claims Angelil followed her into an elevator and later forced his way into her hotel room in 2000. The lawsuit alleges assault, sexual battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress and false imprisonment.

Shortly after the lawsuit was filed, Las Vegas authorities filed theft charges against Sung, saying she issued four bogus checks to Harrah's Las Vegas in May 2001. The sum of the checks totaled more than $500,000.

Sung waived her right to a preliminary hearing in a Las Vegas courtroom, and in May she was released from custody. As a condition of her release, she agreed to pay $50,000 a month in restitution to Harrah's.

Six months later, Ahlstrom said "not a dime" in restitution has been received.

Harrah's corporate officials in Las Vegas declined comment on the matter Thursday.

The prosecutor said he has been in contact with Louisiana officials regarding a bad check investigation. He said authorities there are inquiring about a check or checks issued to a casino.

"It was a rather large amount, about $100,000," Ahlstrom said.

"I can tell you that in previous conversations with law enforcement there, they indicated they are pursuing criminal charges for the same violations we are pursuing her on," Ahlstrom said.

As of Thursday, it was not clear whether any new criminal charges had been filed in Louisiana.

According to court records, Sung recently informed Clark County District Judge Michael Douglas that she does not have an attorney to represent her on the Las Vegas charges.

Her prior attorney, Jason Lane Earnest, wrote in court documents that he withdrew from the case for financial reasons.

"The defendant has not made any payment on her account toward legal services since May 8," Earnest wrote.

Sung is expected to be back in Douglas' courtroom next week.