Former Yangcheon District Mayor Lee Jae-hak, Detained and Indicted, Faces Additional Fraud Charges

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] It has been confirmed that the civic group that reported former Yangcheon District Mayor Lee Jae-hak (57, detained and indicted) and provided the prosecution with investigation leads has additionally reported him on other charges.

The Committee for the Protection of the Common People's Livelihood recently announced on the 25th that it filed a complaint against former Mayor Lee with the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office on charges including fraud and violation of the Attorney-at-Law Act.

In the complaint, the civic group claimed, "The accused acquired an internet media company that was on hiatus in 2015, agreeing to settle the payment later, but has not paid to date," and added, "Furthermore, while operating this media company, he received sponsorship funds from Yangcheon District Office officials and local businessmen and used them arbitrarily."

Previously, this civic group had reported former Mayor Lee for receiving 30 million won from a local businessman in 2014. Following the report, the prosecution launched an investigation and detained and indicted former Mayor Lee last month. The first trial for this case is scheduled for the 29th.

Meanwhile, the Committee for the Protection of the Common People's Livelihood also filed a complaint against Kim Soo-young, the current Yangcheon District Mayor and wife of former Mayor Lee, on charges including abuse of authority.

The civic group claimed that Mayor Kim received complaints alleging unfairness in her husband Lee’s acquisition process of the internet media company but failed to take appropriate measures.