Prosecutors Summon Former Deputy Prime Minister Lee Heon-jae for 'Optimus Lobbying Allegations' Investigation

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] The prosecution, investigating the Optimus Asset Management (Optimus) fund fraud and allegations of lobbying in political and governmental circles, summoned and questioned former Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Lee Heon-jae, who is known to have served as an advisor to Optimus.

According to the legal community on the 2nd, the Economic Crime Division of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Joo Min-cheol) summoned former Deputy Prime Minister Lee on the 1st as a witness for questioning.

The prosecution is reported to have inquired about the circumstances of Lee’s recruitment to the Optimus advisory group, his activities, and whether he was aware of the fund fraud.

An internal Optimus document, referred to as the "Fund Defect Remedy Related" document, included details that former Prosecutor General Chae Dong-wook, former Nara Bank President Yang Ho, former Military Mutual Aid Association Chairman Kim Jin-hoon, along with Lee, served as advisors and played important roles whenever the company faced critical situations.

They reportedly received advisory fees of several million won monthly from Optimus.

The document stated that when it was revealed in 2018 that some of the accounts receivable of Seongji Construction, in which Optimus had invested, were forged and the case was referred to the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office, former Deputy Prime Minister Lee introduced former Prosecutor General Chae Dong-wook to Optimus. It also included information that Lee recommended a power plant project in which Lee Mo, the second-largest shareholder of Optimus, was investing, and that an infrastructure fund was being pursued based on Lee’s proposal.

Earlier, on the 24th of last month, the prosecution summoned former Nara Bank President Yang Ho, identified as the lobby channel to the financial sector on behalf of Optimus, for questioning.

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