The body of a man who apparently committed suicide amid a probe into alleged sexual abuse of a YouTube celebrity has been found in a river east of Seoul, police said Thursday.

A search has been underway since Monday for the 42-year-old man who worked at a local photography studio, after police received a report earlier that day from a witness saying he saw a person jump into the Bukhan River northwest of Seoul. 

The man, whose identity was not disclosed, was under police investigation over allegations that he sexually molested and forcibly took photos of Yang Ye-won in lewd poses in 2015. The allegation went viral as Yang publicly accused him of the misconduct in an emotional YouTube clip in May this year.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said Thursday his body was found after it emerged from water under the Amsa Bridge in Guri, just east of Seoul, at around 7:40 a.m. A construction worker discovered the body and called 119, police said. They identified him by referring to his ID. (Yonhap)