The Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency in charge of investigating the Hwaseong serial murder case
[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Nahum] It has been confirmed that the police summoned and questioned Bae, a key figure in the 'corporate card misuse suspicion' involving Kim Hye-kyung, the wife of Lee Jae-myung, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, on the 3rd.
According to investigative authorities, the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crime Investigation Unit of the Gyeonggi Southern Provincial Police Agency summoned Bae in the morning of the same day for questioning as a suspect. Bae worked as a Grade 5 special appointment employee in the General Affairs Division of the Gyeonggi Provincial Government while Lee was serving as the governor of Gyeonggi Province.
The police reportedly questioned Bae about various facts, including whether there were instructions or involvement from Kim or higher-ups during the process of corporate card misuse.
Bae, suspected of having served as Kim’s personal secretary, has been at the center of various allegations against Kim, including the private misuse of the Gyeonggi Province corporate card and illegal prescription issuance.
Although Bae has previously been investigated as a suspect in a public official election law violation (false information disclosure) related to these suspicions, this is the first time Bae has been summoned as a suspect for the main investigation of the case.
Earlier, in December last year, the People Power Party claimed that "Kim had Bae as her personal secretary for three years starting in 2018," raising suspicions that "the three years’ salary of a public officer paid with taxpayers’ money was used for 'Kim Hye-kyung’s protocol'." They filed complaints against Lee, Kim, and Bae for abuse of authority and loss of public funds.
In February this year, ahead of the presidential election, additional complaints were filed alleging that Kim used public officials for personal errands such as food delivery and household chores, paid for personal meals with the Gyeonggi Province corporate card, and obtained illegal prescriptions under other people’s names.
A police official stated, "Since this is an ongoing investigation, we cannot confirm details such as whether Bae was summoned."
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