The prosecution summoned lawyer Lim Jeong-hyeok (Judicial Research and Training Institute class 16), a former high-ranking prosecutor, on the 14th for investigation on suspicion of receiving money and valuables under the pretext of quelling the investigation into the Baekhyeon-dong development corruption case.
The Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 3 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Kim Yong-sik) called Lim as a suspect for violating the Attorney-at-Law Act and conducted the investigation on the same day.
Lawyer Lim is suspected of receiving money and valuables from Jeong Ba-ul, chairman of Asia Developer, a private businessman, under the pretext of quelling the investigation into the Baekhyeon-dong development corruption case.
The prosecution began a full-scale investigation by conducting a search and seizure of the residences of lawyer Lim and former Seoul Police Agency Intelligence Crime Investigation Unit Chief Kwak Jeong-gi (lawyer, Judicial Research and Training Institute class 33) on the 27th of last month.
Lawyer Lim's position is that he only received 100 million won as formal legal fees and never received any request to quash the investigation nor attempted to quash the investigation accordingly.
However, the prosecution suspects that the legal fees received by Lim included funds under the pretext of lobbying to quash the investigation.
The prosecution also summoned lawyer Kwak, who faces the same charges, as a suspect for questioning the day before. It is known that former Chief Superintendent Kwak received legal fees amounting to about 800 million won.
A prosecution official said, "Once the investigation of related parties is completed, we will comprehensively review various circumstances including the analysis results of seized items and decide on the specific investigation and handling methods in the future."
Real estate businessman Lee, who is known to have introduced lawyers Lim and Kwak to Chairman Jeong, was arrested and indicted on the 20th of last month on charges of receiving 1.33616 billion won from Chairman Jeong as a bribe for quelling the investigation (violation of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes for mediation).
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