[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] It has been confirmed that lawyer Na Seung-cheol, who is involved in former Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung's 'allegation of attorney fee payment on behalf,' is currently representing Lee in a damages claim lawsuit filed by the bereaved family of a victim who was killed by Lee's nephew.
According to the legal community on the 16th, Lee's side submitted a power of attorney designating lawyer Na as their representative to the Seoul Central District Court Civil Division 28 (Presiding Judge Lee Yoo-hyung), which is handling the lawsuit. Lawyer Na is one of the defense attorneys in Lee's public election law violation case and is the figure accused of the 'attorney fee payment on behalf' allegation. He is also suspected of having provided free legal defense in the 'Hyegyeonggung Kimssi' case involving Lee's wife, Kim Hye-kyung.
Previously, Lee was sued by the bereaved family of the victim who was killed by his nephew, Kim. In May 2006, Kim visited the home of Mr. A and killed Mr. A's spouse and daughter. Mr. A escaped by jumping from the balcony of a fifth-floor apartment, sustaining serious injuries. Lee served as the defense attorney in both the first and second trials of Kim's criminal case, arguing that Kim was in a state of diminished mental capacity.
Due to controversy over this background, Lee explained, "One of my relatives committed a serious crime of dating violence in the past, but the family could not afford to hire a lawyer, so as the only lawyer in the family, I had no choice but to take on the defense."
Mr. A claimed that he suffered mental distress because Lee referred to the murder as 'dating violence' and filed a damages claim for 100 million won on December 9 of last year. The first trial for this lawsuit will be held on the 9th of next month.
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