[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 2 (Chief Prosecutor Kim Youngcheol) filed an arrest warrant on the 27th against Lee Jeonggeun, former Deputy Secretary-General of the Democratic Party of Korea, on charges of receiving large sums of money from a businessman as bribes under the Special Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes, including bribery.
The prosecution plans to secure Lee's custody to further investigate whether the solicitations were actually fulfilled and any connections with key figures from the previous administration.
Previously, Lee is accused of receiving 950 million won in multiple installments from businessman Park, under the pretext of arranging government support fund allocations, permits related to the mask business, public institution supplies, and promotions of executives at Korea Southern Power Co., by soliciting public officials and executives of public institutions from December 2019 to January of this year (charges of bribery and violation of the Attorney-at-Law Act).
He is also charged with receiving 330 million won from Park between February and April 2020, during the 21st general election, as election expenses (violation of the Political Funds Act).
The prosecution views the total amount received, including overlapping funds for solicitations and election expenses, as 1.01 billion won.
Lee has denied the charges, claiming that he borrowed money urgently from Park and repaid it, asserting that the funds were not illegal.
Separately, Lee was indicted without detention on the 8th for violating the Public Official Election Act by paying election campaign workers more than the regulated amount during his candidacy as the Democratic Party candidate for the Seocho-gap district in the March 9 by-election.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
