South Korean diplomats in Washington expect the local police to conclude a sexual abuse investigation into former presidential spokesperson Yoon Chang-jung as early as this month, a report said Monday.

Yoon is alleged to have inappropriately touched a South Korean embassy intern at a local bar and later to have called her to his hotel room during President Park Geun-hye’s visit to the U.S. in May. He was initially accused of misdemeanor sexual abuse.

South Korean Embassy officials told Yonhap News that the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Department is likely to disclose the result this month.

Washington police were quoted as saying that they would notify the South Korean Embassy of the outcome first before a formal announcement.

Yoon traveled back to South Korea before the police were able to question him.

If charged with a misdemeanor-level offence, Yoon could face a maximum $1,000 fine, or no more than 180 days in jail under D.C. laws.

In that case, he would not be extradited.

The provisions set by the extradition treaty between the U.S. and South Korea state that only felonies punishable for sentences of “more than one year” require the surrender of the alleged criminal to the requesting country.

Meanwhile, Korean-American lawyer Kim Suk-han has volunteered to represent Yoon in U.S. courts free of charge. Although he had no personal affiliation with Yoon, Kim said that Yoon’s former position with the South Korean government would no doubt attract attention to the case, damaging Korea’s image.

It would be beneficial to South Korea, the United States, and to all involved parties to have the case end quietly and as soon as possible said Kim in an interview with Yonhap News.

The incident caused political uproar in South Korea with lawmakers and media outlets calling the incident an international disgrace that tainted the summit between President Park and President Barack Obama.

By Jeong Hunny (hj257@heraldcorp.com)