Court Issues Arrest Warrant Citing "Concern Over Destruction of Evidence"
Key Figure Detained One Day Before First Lady Kim's First Summons
Lee Jongho, the former CEO of Black Pearl Invest and a close aide to First Lady Kim Keonhee, was arrested on August 5. With Lee, a key figure in the investigation, taken into custody just one day before Kim is scheduled for her first summons, the investigation is expected to gain momentum.
On this day, Nam Sejin, the presiding judge in charge of warrants at the Seoul Central District Court, issued an arrest warrant for Lee at the request of Special Prosecutor Min Jungki's team on charges of violating the Attorney-at-Law Act. The court explained the decision by stating, "There is concern over possible destruction of evidence."
With the special prosecutor securing custody of Lee, who is considered a 'key man' in opening the investigation into Kim Keonhee, the probe into various allegations, including the Deutsch Motors stock manipulation case, is expected to accelerate.
Lee is accused of receiving approximately 80 million won over 25 occasions between June 2022 and February 2023 from Lee Jeongpil, the main orchestrator of the first round of Deutsch Motors stock manipulation, and promising to help him receive a suspended sentence instead of imprisonment in his criminal trial (in violation of the Attorney-at-Law Act).
Lee played the role of control tower in the Deutsch Motors stock manipulation case, which is the core focus of the special prosecutor's investigation. In addition, he has been identified as a key figure in other cases suspected to be linked to Kim Keonhee, such as the Sambu Construction stock manipulation case and lobbying allegations involving Im Seonggeun and Cho Byeongno related to the death of Chae Sangbyeong.
Previously, the special prosecutor's team summoned Lee for questioning three times?on July 21, 23, and 30?regarding the alleged violation of the Attorney-at-Law Act. Lee has completely denied the charges, claiming that the testimony provided by Lee Jeongpil, which initiated the investigation, is false.
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