Former Secretary Lee Kwang-cheol's Trial Merged with Cha Gyu-geun and Lee Gyu-won

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] Lee Kwang-chul, former Blue House civil affairs secretary, who was indicted for illegally prohibiting the departure of former Ministry of Justice Vice Minister Kim Hak-ui, will stand trial together with Cha Gyu-geun, research fellow at the Judicial Research and Training Institute, and Prosecutor Lee Gyu-won.

According to the legal community on the 13th, the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 27 (Presiding Judge Kim Seon-il) merged the trial of former secretary Lee, who was indicted without detention yesterday on charges of abuse of authority and obstruction of the exercise of rights, with the trials of Research Fellow Cha and Prosecutor Lee.

As a result, three defendants involved in the illegal departure case of Kim Hak-ui, excluding Lee Seong-yoon, Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office, will be tried together.

Former Secretary Lee was indicted on the 1st for leading the illegal departure prohibition measures by coordinating between Research Fellow Cha and Prosecutor Lee after learning of former Vice Minister Kim's attempt to leave the country on March 22, 2019.

The court decided to hold a preparatory hearing for the trial of the three on the 13th of next month at 2 p.m. On that day, the prosecution and defense will present their opinions and discuss the plan for evidence presentation.

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