'Reopening of the Lime Scandal Trial... Will Political Connections Be Revealed?'

Investigation Linked to Politics Including Lee Gang-se
Detained Lee Sang-ho Also Sent to Trial

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] After the recess period of courts nationwide ended, major trials resumed on the 10th. Trials related to the Lime Asset Management scandal, which caused damages worth approximately 1.6 trillion KRW, also began in earnest on this day.

The Criminal Division 11 of the Seoul Southern District Court (Chief Judge Lee Hwan-seung) held a trial session in the morning for Lee Kang-se, CEO of Star Mobility, who was indicted on charges including violation of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes (embezzlement). Lee, who previously served as president of Gwangju MBC, is considered the 'link' who brokered connections between former Star Mobility Chairman Kim Bong-hyun, suspected of lobbying political and government circles, and ruling party figures. Kim himself pointed to Lee as the person who "connected me to high-ranking ruling party officials."

Alongside this, Lee Sang-ho, regional chairman of the Democratic Party’s Busan Saha-eul district, who was arrested on charges of receiving money from former Chairman Kim, was also brought to trial. The Criminal Division 6 of the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors’ Office (Chief Prosecutor Jo Sang-won), investigating the Lime case, indicted Lee on the 7th for receiving illegal political funds amounting to 30 million KRW from Kim.

As former Chairman Kim is regarded as a key suspect in the 'Lime scandal,' attention is also focused on the trial outcome of Lee, who is a former pro-Roh politician. During the trial proceedings, the prosecution is expected to intensively investigate CEO Lee Kang-se, who was used as a lobbying channel by Kim and Lee Sang-ho, to uncover lobbying suspicions. There is also a possibility that ruling party lawmaker A, who is known to have received a tailored suit as a gift from Lee Kang-se, may be summoned for questioning.

Jang, former head of the Daishin Securities Banpo WM Center, who is accused of incomplete sales of Lime funds worth about 200 billion KRW, is also a key figure in revealing political and government connections. During the prosecution’s investigation, it was revealed that Jang told victims that a Blue House administrative officer was blocking issues related to Lime. However, the Blue House administrative officer Kim mentioned here claimed during the trial that he personally helped Kim Bong-hyun as a hometown friend. Trials for Kim and former Center head Jang are scheduled for the 19th and 20th of this month, respectively.