[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] It has been confirmed that the prosecution detected that more than 100 flight attendants were 'illegally hired' at Eastar Jet.
According to the legal community on the 10th, the Criminal Division 3 of Jeonju District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Kwon Chan-hyuk) reportedly included this information in the pre-arrest warrant request for Lee Sang-jik, the founder of Eastar Jet and former Democratic Party lawmaker, and Choi Jong-gu, former CEO of Eastar Jet, on charges of obstruction of business.
The prosecution found that from 2015 to 2019, Lee and others hired more than 100 applicants who scored below the passing mark in the document screening and interview stages as flight attendants. During this period, about 500 new flight attendants were hired, making up approximately 20% of the total.
Although the prosecution secured evidence that Lee and others were involved in illegal hiring through political favors from politicians and others during 2014 to the first half of 2015, the statute of limitations (7 years) had expired, so these facts were not included in the arrest warrant charges.
The pre-arrest detention hearing for the two individuals will be held on the 11th. The prosecution is expected to argue that arrest and investigation are necessary due to the scale of illegal hiring, concerns over evidence destruction depending on their positions, and the need for related investigations such as bribery transactions.
However, Lee denied the allegations to reporters in August, stating, "Like public enterprises, 30% of the total workforce is hired as local talent, and recommendations are made during that process," adding, "This was the implementation of government policy, and there were no solicitations."
Separately, Lee was also indicted on charges of embezzlement and breach of trust involving hundreds of billions of won related to Eastar Jet. He was sentenced to six years in prison in the first trial in January and was taken into custody in court but was later released on bail and is currently undergoing trial without detention. The second trial verdict is scheduled for the 25th of next month.
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