Attorney defending couple in Angelil lawsuit gives evidence to police

Erica Johnson

Friday, April 11, 2003 | 9:49 a.m.

The attorney defending the California couple charged with trying to extort millions of dollars from Celine Dion's husband has given police what he claims is evidence of the couple's allegations of sexual assault.

Defense attorney Robert Langford on Thursday handed over Yun Kyeong Sung's jacket to Metro Detective Troy Barrett, who is investigating the case, at the department's sexual assault unit.

Langford claims Sung, 47, was wearing the jacket when Rene Angelil allegedly raped her in an Imperial Palace hotel room in March 2000.

Sung's husband, Ae Hoe Kwon, 50, who is out of custody on a $10,000 bond, accompanied Langford at the meeting. Sung is still being held at the Clark County Detention Center.

Langford said he had the red, Korean-style jacket, which was contained in a taped brown bag, tested by a DNA expert in Los Angeles.

He would not comment on whether the jacket tested positive for Angelil's body fluids, but when asked if he was sure the jacket would vindicate his clients, he responded, "I wouldn't be here if I wasn't."

Langford said the Pasadena couple has had the jacket in their possession since the alleged incident occurred and were waiting for Metro to accept the evidence.

Metro sexual assault detectives said they initially asked for any information that could be pertinent to the case, but closed the investigation because Sung was uncooperative. Charges were never filed against Angelil.

Prosecutors allege the couple threatened to go public with their claims of rape if Angelil did not pay them $13.5 million.

The couple maintain their innocence, Langford said.

Sung also faces separate charges in connection with passing $500,000 in bad checks in Las Vegas casinos.