On the 21st, 'Early Morning Release' Followed by Appearance at Daejang-dong Trial
Heightened Tensions as Yoodonggyu Joins the 'Revelation Battle'
Former Seongnam Urban Development Corporation Director Yoo Dong-gyu (left) and lawyer Nam Wook are attending the continuation of the first trial related to lobbying and preferential treatment allegations in the Daejang-dong development project at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 21st. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] Nam Wook, a key figure in the 'Daejang-dong development scandal,' appeared at the Daejang-dong trial on the 21st and stated, "I heard from defendant Kim Man-bae, the major shareholder of Hwacheon Daeyu Asset Management, that since February 2015, the shares of Cheonhwa-dongin No. 1, a subsidiary of Hwacheon Daeyu, were known to be shares belonging to Mayor Lee Jae-myung's side."
Nam, who was released early in the morning due to the expiration of his detention period, appeared at the continuation of the Daejang-dong trial held from 10 a.m. under the Criminal Division 22 (Presiding Judge Lee Joon-cheol). In response to the prosecutor's question, "If there are parts you could not testify truthfully before, can you roughly tell us?" he said this. He added, "There are parts I could not tell truthfully during the (prosecutors') investigation, but if the prosecutor asks, I will tell the truth to the best of my knowledge."
When asked by the prosecutor about the "reason for not telling at the time," he said, "(There was) a presidential election, and to be honest, I was personally scared. I was mentally overwhelmed during the process of being arrested and investigated immediately upon entering the country," and apologized, saying, "I'm sorry."
Regarding "how Mr. Kim participated in the Daejang-dong project," he testified to the effect that "in the winter of 2011, through reporter Bae Mo, I was introduced to defendant Kim Man-bae, who was brought in to request Mayor Lee Jae-myung to abandon public development and proceed with private development." Also, "at that time, Saenuri Party city councilors outnumbered the Democratic Party, making it difficult for Mayor Lee's side to pass the ordinance to establish the Seongnam Urban Development Corporation. Mr. Kim played a role in coordinating opinions for this," he added.
Nam was released from Seoul Detention Center at around 12:05 a.m. due to the expiration of his detention period. Although he was reserved in response to questions from reporters waiting in front of the detention center, he stated upon appearing at the Daejang-dong trial, "(Regarding the allegations) I will explain in detail in court."
He has been investigated for giving illegal political funds worth several hundred million won to a close aide of Representative Lee. Recently, in the Daejang-dong trial, he has raised suspicions about Representative Lee's involvement in the development process. He will continue to provide related testimony as a witness in the trial on this day as well.
Since former Seongnam Urban Development Corporation Planning Director Yoo Dong-gyu, who was released last month, remained silent about Representative Lee during his detention and trial but made explosive remarks immediately after his release, attention is focused on whether Nam will also join the 'revelation battle.'
It is reported that former Director Yoo gave decisive testimony leading to the prosecution's arrest of Kim Yong, Deputy Director of the Democratic Research Institute, and Chief Jeong, close aides of Representative Lee, on charges of 'illegal presidential election fund receipt.' However, during today's trial appearance, former Director Yoo did not answer questions such as "What do you think about Jeong Jin-sang, Chief of the Democratic Party Representative Office's Political Coordination Office, who was arrested on the 19th and denies the charges?" and "Why did you confess to the charge of instructing the destruction of mobile phone evidence?"
Meanwhile, Kim, who was indicted along with Nam, is scheduled to be released on the 24th, so the speed of the prosecution's 'summons clock' regarding Representative Lee is expected to be determined by the testimonies of the three key figures in the Daejang-dong development scandal. Kim and Nam were jointly arrested and indicted on November 22 last year. They are accused of conspiring with former Director Yoo and others to concentrate development profits on Hwacheon Daeyu, a private developer in Daejang-dong, thereby causing losses to the corporation (breach of trust under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes).
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