Prosecutors Deploy 18 Prosecutors for Optimus Investigation... Strengthening the Investigation Team

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] The prosecution is strengthening a dedicated investigation team to probe the embezzlement of fund money by Optimus Asset Management and allegations of lobbying involving political and government circles.

On the 14th, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office announced that it will form a dedicated investigation team of 18 members, including 9 prosecutors from the Economic Crime Criminal Division, Anti-Corruption Investigation Division, and Crime Proceeds Recovery Division, 5 prosecutors dispatched with approval from the Ministry of Justice, and 4 internal reinforcements from the Central District Prosecutors' Office.

A prosecution official explained, "As various allegations, including lobbying involving political and government circles, have been pouring in through recent media reports, the Central District Prosecutors' Office recommended an increase in investigative personnel to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office around the 25th of last month, and today, following the Ministry of Justice's final approval, the investigation team has been expanded and reorganized."

Earlier, the Ministry of Justice appointed a total of 5 prosecutors from other agencies to the Central District Prosecutors' Office in an acting capacity, including one accounting specialist prosecutor and four prosecutors with extensive experience in financial crime and special investigations.

The prosecution stated, "Considering the workload of each department, the status of major ongoing investigations, the experience of department heads, and expertise comprehensively, the complaint from NH Investment & Securities was assigned to Investigation Division 1." It added, "The dedicated investigation team will swiftly and thoroughly investigate all allegations, including the background that made the large-scale fund fraud possible, the usage of fund money, and lobbying involving political and government circles, in accordance with law and principles."

Meanwhile, the prosecution suspects that Optimus utilized influential figures from the economic and legal sectors as advisory members or lobbyists such as Shin Mo, a former entertainment agency CEO, during the fund sales and related business promotion processes, and is verifying the facts.

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