[Asia Economy Reporters Choi Seok-jin and Yoo Byung-don] The truth game is unfolding over the 'prosecutor drinking party' allegations exposed by Kim Bong-hyun, former chairman of Star Mobility (46, detained and indicted), a key figure in the Lime Asset Management scandal. Lawyer Lee Joo-hyung, who was identified as the person who arranged the drinking party, has fully denied the allegations, stating that 'there was no drinking party with any active prosecutors.'
The prosecution has specified the date of the entertainment through Kim’s initial investigation and is piecing together the puzzle by analyzing the mobile phone forensic data of Lawyer Lee and the prosecutors involved in the allegations. Attention is focused on whether Kim will continue to reveal further disclosures at the fourth trial session on the 30th.
On the 29th, the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors’ Office’s special investigation team for the prosecutor entertainment and bribery case (led by Kim Rak-hyun, head of the Criminal Division 6) is analyzing the mobile phones of two prosecutors involved in the allegations, messenger login records from office computers seized on the 27th, and four mobile phones submitted by Lawyer Lee.
The prosecution visited Seoul Southern Detention Center, where Kim is incarcerated, the previous day to conduct a second investigation, specifying the date when the prosecutor drinking party took place. They are cross-referencing call records between Lawyer Lee and the prosecutors on that date, as well as computer login records, to trace their whereabouts on the day of the incident.
However, since Kim stated that the entertainment occurred in July last year, more than a year ago, it is expected to take some time to pinpoint the exact date and detailed movements. A prosecution official said, "If there were direct evidence like photos, it would be easy to specify the date, but in the absence of such evidence, we have to analyze various other circumstantial factors."
Lawyer Lee has claimed in media interviews that "there were drinking parties with lawyers who are former prosecutors, but no drinking parties with active prosecutors," and that "Kim is fabricating stories using the names of prosecutors from the investigation team, which he was told during his last visit to the detention center for lawyer resignation."
Additionally, the prosecutors identified by Kim as attendees of the drinking party are reportedly denying that such a gathering ever took place. Given the completely opposing claims, if the prosecution fails to secure concrete evidence confirming the drinking party, it cannot be ruled out that a confrontation investigation between Kim, Lawyer Lee, and the named prosecutors may be conducted.
Meanwhile, the Criminal Division 13 of the Seoul Southern District Court will hold the fourth trial session regarding Kim’s embezzlement charges at 2 p.m. on the 30th.
At the third trial session on the 23rd, which Kim missed due to health reasons, Kim Mo, the financial director and accomplice in the embezzlement of Suwon Passenger funds, testified that "Kim Bong-hyun told me to send photos of him socializing with Lee Sang-ho, former Democratic Party Busan Saha District Chairman, at a room salon to the media, so I distributed them." Therefore, it is highly likely that Kim will attend the fourth trial to state his position.
Kim, who has previously appeared as a witness in trials related to former Star Mobility CEO Lee Kang-se (58, detained and indicted) and continued to make disclosures, may also reveal new facts in his own trial.
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