[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] Veterans related to the Korea Veterans Association's funeral service acquisition by Star Mobility, which has been identified as a funding source in the Lime Asset Management fund scandal, have been reported to the prosecution over lobbying allegations.
The Korea Veterans Association Normalization Promotion Committee filed a complaint on the morning of the 2nd with the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office against Kim Jin-ho, president of the Korea Veterans Association, and officials of the veterans' funeral service for charges including embezzlement and breach of duty.
The committee claims that President Kim and others forcibly pushed for the sale of the funeral service to Star Mobility, during which there was all-out lobbying by individuals related to Lime. Star Mobility, a KOSDAQ-listed company, is owned by Kim Bong-hyun (46, currently wanted), a key figure in the Lime scandal.
Kim is suspected of conducting extensive lobbying targeting Kim, a former Blue House administrator and team leader at the Financial Supervisory Service, to acquire the veterans' funeral service. He is also charged with embezzling 51.7 billion KRW of company funds from Star Mobility. He is currently in hiding.
Lee Sang-gi, chairman of the Korea Veterans Association Normalization Promotion Committee, stated, "A recording has been released revealing that those involved in the Lime scandal spent an enormous amount of money on lobbying related to the veterans' funeral service sale corruption allegations," adding, "The veterans' executive branch forcibly pushed for a secretive and hasty sale of the funeral service to a Lime subsidiary, and there are many suspicions, including selling the funeral service to a consortium with no experience in the funeral business."
He continued, "There is no doubt that President Kim's reckless sale was to erase traces of Haksowon Funeral Hall, which was purchased two years ago at twice the minimum auction price."
The Promotion Committee urged the prosecution and the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs to thoroughly investigate President Kim and related parties.
The prosecution is reportedly investigating allegations that Kim and others attempted to embezzle membership fees amounting to 180 billion KRW by acquiring the Korea Veterans Association funeral service in January this year, as well as suspicions of lobbying financial authorities during the acquisition process.
These allegations surfaced through the testimony of Jang, a former center chief at Daishin Securities and a key figure in the Lime scandal. Recorded conversations between former center chief Jang and victims of Lime investments included discussions suggesting that former President Kim intended to resolve Lime fund issues using the funeral service funds after acquiring the Korea Veterans Association funeral service.
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