Suspended Sentences for Drivers Who Aided Kim Bong-hyun and Lee Jong-pil's Escape in the 'Lime Scandal'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] The drivers who were on trial for aiding the escape of Kim Bong-hyun, chairman of Star Mobility and the main culprit in the 'Lime Asset Management scandal,' and Lee Jong-pil, former vice president of Lime, were sentenced to suspended prison terms in the first trial.

On the 11th, Judge Kim Jin-cheol of the Criminal Division 6 at the Seoul Southern District Court sentenced driver Sung and driver Han to four months in prison with a one-year suspension and six months in prison with a two-year suspension, respectively.

The court stated, "The defendants knew that Chairman Kim and former Vice President Lee were on the run to evade investigation agencies but helped them, so they should be severely punished," but added, "They acted under the instructions of their employer, Chairman Kim, were detained for two months after arrest, never received separate economic benefits, and have no prior criminal records," explaining the reasons for sentencing.

On the other hand, the court acquitted Sung of charges such as moving money into the car under Chairman Kim's orders the day before former Vice President Lee fled, arranging accommodation for Lee, and selling Lee's stocks to raise escape funds, recognizing that Sung was unaware of Lee's escape at the time.

Sung and Han were arrested last April on charges of assisting the escape of Chairman Kim and former Vice President Lee by delivering cash and medicine and have been on trial since then.

Former Vice President Lee fled after an arrest warrant was issued last November on charges of involvement in the embezzlement of hundreds of billions of won from Lead, a listed company targeted by Lime's investments. Chairman Kim also went into hiding after an arrest warrant was issued last December on charges of embezzling 16.1 billion won from Suwon Passenger Company.

Chairman Kim and former Vice President Lee were arrested by police in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, in April of this year while on the run and are currently on trial in custody.

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