Prosecutors Conduct Search and Seizure of Witness Providing 'Alibi' for Kim Yong

On the 9th, the prosecution executed a search warrant on Lee, former head of the Gyeonggi-do Market Promotion Agency and a suspect in perjury during the trial of Kim Yong, former deputy director of the Democratic Research Institute, regarding illegal fund receipt.

Kim Yong, Former Vice President of the Democratic Research Institute [Photo by Yonhap News]

The Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 3 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Kang Baeksin) dispatched prosecutors and investigators from the morning to 4 to 5 locations including Lee's residence and related offices to secure relevant materials. Shin, director of the Gyeonggi-do Energy Center, was also included in the search targets.

Lee is accused of giving false alibi testimony during Kim's trial on the timing of receiving illegal presidential election funds. Lee testified in court that on May 3, 2021, between 3 and 4 p.m., he met Kim at his office inside the Suwon Convention Center in Suwon City, Gyeonggi Province, to discuss work. He added that Shin was also present at the meeting. Lee submitted a photo of the calendar on his old mobile phone, where he had noted the appointment with Kim, as evidence to the court.

This date is when the prosecution, through investigation, identified that Kim first received 10 million won in illegal presidential election funds from Yoo Dong-gyu, former head of Seongnam Urban Development Corporation. According to Lee's testimony, Kim would have been elsewhere on the day the prosecution pointed out, potentially clearing him of the charges.

The court requested Lee to submit his mobile phone for forensic examination to verify the truth, but Lee did not comply and subsequently did not appear in court.

Consequently, the court issued a search warrant ex officio, which the prosecution executed, but the mobile phone was not found. Lee is reported to have claimed that "the mobile phone suddenly disappeared." The prosecution suspects that Lee manipulated the calendar photo and deliberately concealed the original mobile phone.