Prosecutors Indict Optimus Lobbyists for 'Lee Nak-yeon Copier Rental Fee Payment'... First Trial Next Month

Former Lee Nak-yeon, former leader of the Democratic Party of Korea./Photo by National Assembly Press Corps

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin] On the 19th, it was reported that the prosecution indicted lobbyists from Optimus Asset Management, who are suspected of paying the rental fees for the multifunction printer at the regional office of former Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon, last month.

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office Optimus investigation team indicted three people, including Kim and Shin, on charges of violating the Political Funds Act on the 26th of last month. Kim and Shin, known as key lobbyists for Optimus, are already on trial for other charges.

Earlier, in November of last year, the Seoul Metropolitan Election Commission reported two people, including Lee, who was the deputy chief of the Democratic Party leader's office, to the prosecution for violating the Political Funds Act in connection with allegations that former leader Lee received support for the rental fees of a multifunction printer at the Jongno election office from Trust All, an affiliate of Optimus Asset Management, between February and May.

Lee, who served as a political affairs advisor during Lee Nak-yeon's tenure as governor of Jeonnam Province, appeared at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-dong, Seoul, on December 2nd last year, was investigated with his lawyer, then went missing, and was found dead the next afternoon by police searching a building near the Seoul Central District Court building.

A prosecution official stated, "Cases related to the Election Commission's report involving (the deceased) Lee were processed and closed on the 26th of last month."

The first trial for Kim and the other three defendants is scheduled to be held on the 25th of next month at the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 4 (Presiding Judge Shin Hyuk-jae).