Eight Including Former Seoul High Court Chief Judge Positioned
First Trial Date Today...Dispute Over Accomplice Status and More
Lee Mo, who is accused of embezzling 221.5 billion KRW from Osstem Implant, is being transferred to the prosecution from Gangseo Police Station in Seoul on the 14th. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@
[Asia Economy Reporters Byungdon Yoo, Seongpil Cho] Lee Mo (45, detained), the finance team leader of Osstem Implant accused of embezzling 221.5 billion KRW of company funds, will face trial with a luxurious legal defense team.
The Criminal Division 14 of Seoul Southern District Court (Chief Judge Donghyun Kim) will hold Lee's first trial session on the afternoon of the 2nd at 2:30 PM on charges of embezzlement under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes. During this session, the prosecution will read the charges and the defendant will respond to the allegations. Since Lee admits only to acting alone, the focus will be on whether there were accomplices and the extent of damage recovery.
Lee's current legal defense team consists of eight lawyers, many of whom belong to the law firm Beomwoo. Beomwoo’s lead attorney, Beomgyun Lee, is a former judge who served as a chief judge at the Seoul High Court, often called the "flower of judges." Attorney Jonghyuk Bae, who runs a private law office, is a former Seoul High Prosecutors’ Office official and was recognized as an excellent trial prosecutor by the Korean Bar Association in 2019, earning a reputation as a "trial expert."
During the police investigation, Lee had also hired ten lawyers from the law firm YK. Law firm YK is known for its prominence during police investigations, having recruited 31 retired police officers including former police lawyers. Among those who defended Lee during the police investigation, some, such as attorney Hyunhwan Jeon, were confirmed to be former police officers.
Currently, law firm YK has withdrawn, and none of the ten lawyers are participating in the trial. Given this situation, there is analysis that Lee, who embezzled a record-breaking amount exceeding 200 billion KRW, has carefully selected appropriate lawyers for each stage of investigation and trial.
Lee is showing thorough preparation for the trial, and since police investigations into possible criminal conspiracy involving Lee’s family and company executives are still ongoing, there is a possibility that additional indictments during the trial process could prolong the proceedings.
The prosecution took over the investigation of Lee’s embezzlement from the police and has currently brought only this charge to trial. Investigations into Lee’s alleged forgery and use of false documents are still ongoing at the police level.
Lee was arrested and indicted on charges of embezzlement for transferring a total of 221.5 billion KRW from the company account to his personal securities account 15 times between November 2020 and October last year while working as the finance team leader at Osstem Implant, using the funds arbitrarily for personal purposes such as stock investments.
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