First Active Lawmaker Indicted on Suspicion of Accepting Money Envelopes
Independent lawmaker Lee Seong-man, accused of accepting cash envelopes related to the Democratic Party of Korea's party convention, has been indicted. This is the first time the prosecution has charged a sitting lawmaker suspected of accepting cash envelopes.
Independent lawmaker Lee Seong-man is appearing at the Seoul Central District Court on August 4 last year to undergo a detention warrant hearing as a key suspect in the 'money envelope incident.' Photo by Heo Young-han younghan@
The Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 2 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Choi Jae-hoon) indicted Lee on the 7th without detention on charges of violating the Political Parties Act and the Political Funds Act.
According to the prosecution, Lee is accused of providing a total of 11 million won in off-the-books campaign funds in two installments around March 2021 to Lee Jeong-geun, former Deputy Secretary-General of the Democratic Party and a campaign worker for Song Young-gil's primary camp; Kang Rae-gu, former Standing Auditor of Korea Water Resources Corporation; and former party leader Song Young-gil.
He is also accused of receiving a cash envelope containing 3 million won from independent lawmaker Yoon Kwan-seok at a meeting of lawmakers supporting former leader Song around April 2021.
Investigations into other lawmakers suspected of accepting cash envelopes are currently delayed. Investigations have already been conducted for Lee and Democratic Party lawmakers Heo Jong-sik and Lim Jong-sung. However, the remaining lawmakers are reportedly not responding to the prosecution's summons, citing preparations for the general election as the reason.
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