Investigation Team Submits Related Testimony Records as Evidence
Lee and Attorney Kim Yong Suspected of Participating in Telegram Chat Room
Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is reported to have been involved in the defense of his close aide Kim Yong, former deputy director of the Democratic Research Institute, in the trial concerning illegal political funds and bribery charges, according to information obtained by the prosecution.
Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 6th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min
The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office Trial Division 5 (Chief Prosecutor Jeong Il-kwon) recently submitted a statement from a case-related person containing such circumstances as additional evidence to the court handling the perjury coaching charges against personnel from Lee’s presidential campaign, confirmed on the 7th.
It is reported that the statement includes details that Lee participated in a Telegram chatroom, which included Kim’s defense attorneys, from April last year, where he received updates on the trial and suggested directions for the defense strategy.
Kim was indicted in November 2022 on charges of receiving over 800 million won in illegal presidential election funds from Nam Wook, a developer involved in the Daejang-dong project, and was sentenced to five years in prison in the first trial last November after some charges were upheld.
The prosecution has understood that Lee expressed opinions in the Telegram chatroom such as, "If money is to be given, there should be call records between Kim and Yoo Dong-gyu, former head of the Planning Department at Seongnam Urban Development Corporation; can we check that?" and "It would be sufficient to demonstrate only the likelihood that the prosecution might have secured it."
The prosecution is also reported to have secured testimony from defense attorneys stating that Lee first requested to join Kim’s defense team chatroom and even took photos of trial evidence records to share with the lawyers.
The prosecution suspects that Lee may have actively taken an interest and involved himself in the trial to prevent issues arising if Kim’s illegal political fund receipt is confirmed, as it could implicate Lee himself in either condoning or participating in the crime. During the trial process of the illegal political fund case, controversy arose over former Gyeonggi Province Market Promotion Agency Director Lee, who allegedly provided a "false alibi" for Kim.
In relation to this, the prosecution arrested and indicted Park and Seo, former members of Lee’s presidential campaign, in February on charges of coaching false testimony against former Director Lee.
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