"No Suspicion of Homicide"... Police Close Investigation into Death of Lee Nak-yeon's Close Associate

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] Regarding the discovery of Lee Nak-yeon, deputy chief of the Democratic Party leader's office, who was under prosecution investigation for alleged support of copier rental fees by Optimus Asset Management, found dead, the police have concluded the investigation, determining there is no suspicion of homicide.

According to the police on the 5th, the Seoul Seocho Police Station closed the investigation last month into the death of Lee, who worked as the deputy chief of the leader's office.

Lee appeared at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office on December 2 last year and was questioned with his lawyer. He was scheduled to be questioned again after dinner but disappeared. After receiving a missing person report from Lee's family, the police tracked his mobile phone location and found him around 9:15 PM the next day. At the scene, Lee's mobile phone, wallet, and notebook were found, but no suicide note was discovered.

The police applied for a communication warrant for Lee's mobile phone last year, but the court dismissed it. Seeing no evidence of a crime in Lee's phone records, the police did not reapply for the warrant. An autopsy was also not conducted.

Lee was a close aide who served as a political special advisor during Lee's tenure as governor of Jeonnam Province in 2015. Last month, the Seoul Metropolitan Election Commission reported two people, including Lee, to the prosecution for violating the Political Funds Act over allegations that an Optimus-related company paid 760,000 won for the copier rental fee at Lee's office in Jongno-gu, Seoul.

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