Prosecutors Analyze Seized Items from Seongnam City Hall... Focus on Securing Clues of Daejang-dong Favoritism and Lobbying

The prosecution investigating the Daejang-dong development lobbying and preferential treatment allegations is moving seized items after completing a search and seizure at Seongnam City Hall in Gyeonggi Province on the afternoon of the 15th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] The prosecution investigating the preferential treatment and lobbying allegations related to the Daejang-dong development is focusing on securing clues to support the suspicions by analyzing evidence obtained from a search and seizure at Seongnam City Hall.

According to the legal community on the 16th, the dedicated investigation team of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office conducted an approximately 11-hour search and seizure at Seongnam City Hall's Urban Housing Bureau, Education, Culture and Sports Bureau, Cultural City Project Group, and Information and Communication Department the previous day, securing materials related to the Daejang-dong project.

However, it was reported that the search and seizure did not include the Mayor's Office or the Secretary's Office.

The prosecution plans to analyze the secured materials over the weekend and then summon the public officials who were in charge of the practical work of the Daejang-dong development project for questioning.

The investigation team is also accelerating efforts to secure materials necessary to prove guilt, as the detention period of former Seongnam Urban Development Corporation Planning Director Yoo Dong-gyu expires on the 20th, requiring indictment before then.

In particular, it is reported that evidence related to Yoo's bribery charges is being reinforced through account tracing and other means.

Earlier, when the prosecution detained former Director Yoo, they claimed that Kim Man-bae, the major shareholder of Hwacheon Daeyu Asset Management (Hwacheon Daeyu), handed Yoo a total of 500 million won, consisting of 100 million won in cash and 400 million won in checks.

However, during Kim's pre-arrest interrogation, the prosecution changed the charges, stating that only 500 million won in cash was transferred.

The court dismissed Kim's arrest warrant, citing insufficient grounds to justify the necessity of detention. The investigation team is reportedly conducting supplementary investigations, noting that the court pointed out a lack of account tracing and other evidence to support the bribery allegations between former Director Yoo and Kim.

As the success or failure of account tracing and other investigations conducted before Yoo's indictment could affect how the allegation of receiving 500 million won is handled in the indictment, the prosecution's investigation developments are drawing attention.

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