Lime Scandal Trial Enters Breather Phase... Prosecution Investigation Accelerates

Court Closures Nationwide from the 27th... Prosecution Focuses on Securing Investigation Time
Efforts Concentrated on Additional Charges and Tracking Unsecured Suspects

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] As courts nationwide enter recess, the investigation team probing the 'Lime Asset Management scandal' is making every effort to supplement the previously insufficient investigation and prove additional charges against individuals already indicted.

As of the 27th, there are 13 ongoing trials related to the Lime case at the Seoul Southern District Court. Although the prosecution initially filed more indictments, the court consolidated them due to procedural reasons and case relevance. Considering cases involving individuals who have not yet been arrested or detained but not indicted, there is ample possibility for more trials in the future.

Meanwhile, the Criminal Division 6 of the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Cho Sang-won), which is handling the Lime case, is expected to intensify its investigation. Last week, the prosecution arrested Lee Sang-ho, the Democratic Party’s Busan Saha-eul district committee chairman, on charges of receiving bribes from former Star Mobility Chairman Kim Bong-hyun. Lee is accused of accepting 30 million KRW in illegal political funds and stocks worth approximately 56 million KRW from a company actually owned by Kim. With Lee, a pro-Roh figure, being detained, attention is focused on whether connections between the Lime scandal and the ruling party will be revealed.

Additionally, the prosecution’s investigation into a ruling party lawmaker who reportedly received a luxury suit as a gift from former Chairman Kim is still ongoing. The prosecution is investigating political connections centered around Lee Kang-se, the CEO of Star Mobility (detained and indicted), who previously served as president of Gwangju MBC.

Furthermore, the prosecution is considering the possibility of additional indictments related to ongoing trials. Former Lime Vice President Lee Jong-pil (42) is also under investigation for allegedly concealing the occurrence of defaults in the Lime trade finance fund and deceiving investors by pretending it was being managed normally. Previously, Lee was detained and indicted on charges of receiving benefits worth approximately 1.4 billion KRW in exchange for investing Lime fund money into the KOSDAQ-listed company Lead. The prosecution is also considering further investigation and possible additional indictments of former Chairman Kim, suspected of lobbying political and business circles in connection with the Lime case, and Lee Kang-se, regarded as the 'link' who mediated between Kim and ruling party figures.

Moreover, the prosecution is focusing on securing the custody of other chairmen involved in the Lime scandal. Notable among them are Kim (47, wanted), chairman of Metropolitan, a real estate development company, and Lee (53, wanted), chairman of Esmo, a KOSDAQ-listed company known as a corporate raider. The prosecution views them as key figures who, along with former Vice President Lee Jong-pil, embezzled Lime funds.

However, a potential variable is emerging as Seoul Southern District Prosecutor General Song Sam-hyun (58, Judicial Research and Training Institute class 23), a classmate of Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, has expressed his intention to resign ahead of upcoming prosecutorial personnel changes. There have been suspicions that Song, who led the Lime investigation and pushed forward investigations targeting the Blue House and the ruling party, fell out of favor with the administration. Some speculate that with Song stepping down and a new figure taking over, the intensity of the prosecution’s investigation into the Lime case might change.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.