Prosecutors Focus Investigation on $8 Million North Korea Remittance Link
Kim's Brother-in-Law 'Treasurer' Refuses Extradition in Thailand Trial
[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Kyung-jun] Park Mo, the personal secretary who helped former Ssangbangwool Group Chairman Kim Seong-tae flee overseas after being indicted on charges including illegal remittance to North Korea and bribery, was repatriated to South Korea on the 7th.
Park arrived at Incheon International Airport around 7:30 a.m. and was immediately escorted to the Criminal Division 6 of the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Kim Young-nam), which is investigating former Chairman Kim.
Kim Sung-tae, former chairman of Ssangbangwool Group, was assisted in his overseas escape by his aide Park, who arrived at Incheon International Airport Terminal 1 on the morning of the 7th. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Park left the airport without responding to reporters' questions such as "Why did you flee to Cambodia?" and "Did you have several mobile phones used by former Chairman Kim?"
Park had been living in hiding with former Chairman Kim in Thailand and was elsewhere when Kim was caught with Yang Seon-gil, Chairman of Ssangbangwool, at a golf course in Pathum Thani, Thailand, on the 10th of last month. Afterwards, Park attempted to flee to Cambodia but was caught by local Cambodian police near the border.
It is reported that Park was in possession of several mobile phones used by former Chairman Kim and bundles of documents. The prosecution reportedly secured the items Park owned at the time through Cambodian police. The prosecution believes that the mobile phones used by former Chairman Kim contain evidence to prove various charges.
Earlier, the investigation team indicted former Chairman Kim on charges including violation of the Foreign Exchange Transactions Act, violation of the Political Funds Act, bribery, and violation of the Capital Markets Act.
Former Chairman Kim is accused of smuggling approximately 8 million dollars overseas under the pretext of paying for smart farm costs while promoting inter-Korean business in 2019 and delivering the money to North Korea.
He is also accused of providing 330 million won in political funds and about 260 million won of that as bribes to former Gyeonggi Province Peace Deputy Governor Lee Hwa-young from July 2018 to July last year.
The investigation team conducted the investigation focusing on the criminal facts included in the arrest warrant within 20 days of detention and prioritized indicting only some of the criminal facts. Investigations into several other criminal charges that were not indicted are ongoing.
The investigation team is reportedly paying attention to the fact that former Deputy Governor Lee met with North Korean officials during a business trip to China from January to May 2019 to discuss cooperative projects and that he pushed for the visit of Lee Jae-myung, then governor and now leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, to North Korea.
The investigation team is known to be focusing on whether the 8 million dollars sent to North Korea by former Chairman Kim is related to Lee Jae-myung and others and whether there was any quid pro quo.
The problem is that the repatriation of Kim Mo, former Ssangbangwool Chief of Finance and former Chairman Kim’s brother-in-law, who was caught in Thailand last December, is being delayed. Kim filed a lawsuit to refuse repatriation immediately after being arrested by Thai police. Because of this, it is expected to take at least several months before Kim is repatriated to South Korea and questioned by the prosecution.
The prosecution believes that securing the custody of former Chief Kim, who was former Chairman Kim’s treasurer, will help unravel the various suspicions raised so far, including allegations of covering legal fees for Lee Jae-myung by Ssangbangwool Group.
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