Prosecutors Raid Korea Communications Agency and Daishin Securities Over 'Optimus Suspicion'

[Asia Economy Reporter Bae Kyunghwan] The prosecution investigating the Optimus Asset Management fund fraud case conducted a search and seizure at the Korea Communications Agency Gyeongin Headquarters.

On the 16th, the Economic Crime Division of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Jumincheol) dispatched prosecutors and investigators to the Korea Communications Agency Gyeongin Headquarters in Namdong-gu, Incheon, the headquarters of Daishin Securities in Jung-gu, Seoul, and Gangnam N Tower in Gangnam, Seoul, to secure materials related to Optimus.

This search and seizure was carried out to verify allegations of lobbying by the Optimus side.

The prosecution obtained testimonies from related parties that Jeong Youngje, former CEO of Optimus Alternative Investment, provided money and goods to the fund management officer to induce investment from the Communications Agency. It is known that the fund management officer at that time is currently the head of the Gyeongin Headquarters of the Korea Communications Agency.

The Korea Communications Agency invested 74.8 billion KRW in Optimus from June 2017 to March 2018 but withdrew the investment after discovering regulatory violations. The prosecution is reported to have secured the head of the Gyeongin Headquarters’ notebook and other items from the office.

Daishin Securities was the first to sell the Optimus fund. After the Korea Communications Agency decided to invest in Optimus, Daishin Securities was also entrusted with setting up the fund. The prosecution is reportedly securing related materials to understand the circumstances under which Daishin Securities began selling the Optimus fund.

Additionally, Gangnam N Tower was the registered corporate address of Trustall, CPNS, and E-Plus, companies known to have received Optimus fund money. It was also the office location of Shin Mo, a former entertainment agency CEO known as one of the key lobbyists for Optimus.

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