[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The prosecution, which launched a forced investigation into the North Korea economic cooperation project allegations involving Ssangbangwool Group and former Gyeonggi Province Deputy Governor for Peace Lee Hwa-young, has reportedly uncovered additional bribery suspicions related to Lee and conducted a search and seizure at the relevant company on the 5th.
According to the legal community on the 6th, the Criminal Division 6 of Suwon District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Kim Young-nam) sent prosecutors and investigators to company A the previous day to secure materials. The prosecution is said to have detected signs that company A registered Mr. B, a close aide of former Deputy Governor Lee, as a fictitious employee and paid him a salary.
Earlier, the prosecution arrested Lee on the 28th of last month on charges of receiving bribes worth about 250 million won, including corporate credit cards and three foreign cars, from Ssangbangwool in exchange for facilitating a North Korea economic cooperation project agreement between Ssangbangwool and the North in 2019.
The prosecution also found that Lee had falsely registered his close aide Mr. C as an employee of Ssangbangwool to receive wages of about 90 million won. It is reported that they are investigating whether Lee received money or valuables from the company through another close aide using a similar method.
Additionally, on the same day, the prosecution conducted search and seizure operations at the former chairman's office and office of the Northeast Asia Peace Economy Association located in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, as well as the Public Institution Affairs Office in Yeongtong-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi Province Government Office. They also searched the residences of Shin, the secretary-general of the Northeast Asia Peace Economy Association (former director of the Gyeonggi Province Peace Cooperation Bureau), and Mr. D, a team leader at the provincial government who served as Lee’s secretary.
The Northeast Asia Peace Economy Association was established by Lee in 2008. Its main projects include economic cooperation and policy research related to Northeast Asia. Lee served as chairman of this organization until he was appointed deputy governor of the province (August 2018 to January 2020).
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