Testimony: "Kim, embezzling 11.5 billion, had strong desire for promotion"... Police and District Office investigate possible accomplices

"Suspicious Embezzlement Case of a Quiet Employee Inside District Office"
Police Also Consider Possibility of Accomplices

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Seongpil Jo and Sehee Jang] Kim Mo (47), a Grade 7 public official at Gangdong District Office who was arrested on charges of embezzling 11.5 billion KRW of public funds, was reportedly very eager for promotion according to internal testimonies from the district office. The district office and police are investigating whether there are accomplices such as collaborators.

On the 28th, a senior official at Gangdong District Office told Asia Economy, "Compared to his peers, Kim’s promotion was relatively slow," and added, "We understand that recently he was very eager to get promoted." Several employees also said, "Kim, who usually had a quiet personality, surprised everyone by committing this act," and "He was not the type to actively engage in work." Considering his usual behavior, there was no suspicion of crimes such as embezzlement.

However, since he had a strong desire for promotion, the possibility of bribery cannot be ruled out. Kim, who worked in the Investment Attraction Division of Gangdong District Office, is accused of embezzling a total of 11.5 billion KRW in public funds over dozens of occasions from December 2019 to February last year, with up to 500 million KRW per day. It is reported that Kim sent an official letter to Seoul Housing and Communities Corporation (SH) instructing them to deposit funds into a district office business account he managed instead of the fund management account from which withdrawals were not possible. During this period, the district office reportedly did not notice Kim’s embezzlement.

The district office has currently formed a ‘Special Investigation Team on Public Service Corruption’ to investigate whether there were internal collaborators. A district office official said, "There is considerable concern about ‘who might have been involved together’," and added, "In Kim’s case, there is a very high possibility that he will be dismissed through a personnel committee in the future."

The police are also verifying whether there are accomplices. The Gangdong Police Station, which is investigating the case, summoned district office officials who were in the approval line at the time Kim committed the embezzlement and SH officials related to the embezzled funds as witnesses for questioning until the day before. It is reported that no witnesses have yet been converted into suspects. A police official stated, "Kim claims he acted alone, but we are also investigating the possibility of accomplices."