[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Chunsu] The police have requested an arrest warrant for Lee Seung-ok, the mayor of Gangjin County, who is suspected of distributing gifts to local residents ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday.
According to the Anti-Corruption Economic Crime Investigation Unit 1 of the Jeonnam Police Agency on the 2nd, a pre-arrest warrant was requested for Mayor Lee Seung-ok on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act.
Mayor Lee is suspected of distributing fruit gifts worth approximately 35 million won to about 800 people, including village chiefs and Saemaul leaders, ahead of the Lunar New Year earlier this year.
About 20 people who assisted Mayor Lee are currently under investigation, and among them, 12 are known to be current and former public officials registered as suspects.
It was revealed that they used official vehicles to deliver boxes of apples, and some urged the recipients of the gifts to "make a thank-you call to the mayor."
It was investigated that a significant number actually made thank-you calls, and local gift certificates were confirmed to have been used to purchase the gifts.
The police conducted a search and seizure of the Gangjin County Office mayor’s office, secretary’s office, and the mayor’s residence last August, and through summons and investigations of Mayor Lee and his wife, they are known to have confirmed a substantial part of the election law violation charges.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
