Prosecutors Analyze Kang Ki-jung's 'GPS Records'... Investigation into 50 Million Won Bribery Allegation

by Yoo Byeongdon

Published 18 Oct.2020 15:15(KST)

Updated 18 Oct.2020 18:41(KST)

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Questions on Circumstances Before and After Senior Prosecutor Kang's GPS Records During Meeting with Former Chairman Kim Bong-hyun

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] The prosecution is accelerating its investigation into allegations of political lobbying involving Kim Bong-hyun (46, detained), former chairman of Star Mobility, who has been identified as the de facto financier in the 'Lime Asset Management scandal.'

According to the legal community on the 18th, the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office recently presented the GPS records of former Blue House Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Kang Ki-jung from around the end of July last year during a meeting with former chairman Kim and inquired about the circumstances.

The end of July last year is the time when Kang Ki-jung and Lee Kang-se (58, detained), CEO of Star Mobility and Kim’s business partner, were reportedly meeting.

The prosecution’s analysis of former Secretary Kang’s GPS records is interpreted as an effort to review his whereabouts at the time and to verify whether he met CEO Lee at locations other than the Blue House. Although Kang has not been directly investigated regarding this allegation, it appears that the prosecution has recently re-initiated fact-checking.

On the 8th, during CEO Lee’s trial, former chairman Kim stated, "I understand that 50 million won was delivered to former Secretary Kang through CEO Lee."

In response, former Secretary Kang admitted, "I met CEO Lee at the Blue House for about 20 minutes on July 28, 2019," but completely denied the bribery allegations and filed a complaint with the prosecution against former chairman Kim for perjury and defamation.

In July, the prosecution indicted CEO Lee on charges including violation of the Attorney-at-Law Act, believing that CEO Lee received a shopping bag containing 50 million won in cash from former chairman Kim under the pretext of quashing the Financial Supervisory Service’s audit of Lime, during a meeting with a Blue House senior secretary.