Starmobility CEO Lee Gang-se, Involved in 'Lime Scandal,' Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison on Appeal

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin, Legal Affairs Specialist] Lee Kang-se, former CEO of Star Mobility, who was involved in the 'Lime Asset Management (Lime) scandal' that caused a stir due to a large-scale suspension of redemptions, was sentenced to 5 years in prison in the appellate court as well.

On the 10th, the Seoul High Court Criminal Division 6-3 (Presiding Judges Jo Eun-rae, Kim Yong-ha, Jeong Chong-ryeong) upheld the first trial sentence of 5 years imprisonment and ordered a fine of 70 million won against the former CEO Lee.

Lee was indicted on charges including embezzlement, having conspired with Kim Bong-hyun, former chairman of Star Mobility, to use 19.2 billion won of company funds unrelated to business operations as acquisition funds for the Veterans Association's mutual aid society.

He is also accused of receiving 50 million won and 20 million won respectively from former chairman Kim under the pretext of lobbying former Blue House Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Kang Ki-jung and a prosecution investigator.

Meanwhile, on the same day, the Seoul High Court Criminal Division 6-2 (Presiding Judges Jeong Chong-ryeong, Jo Eun-rae, Kim Yong-ha) overturned the first trial that sentenced former Lead chairman Kim Jeong-su to 6 years in prison and sentenced him to 5 years in prison. The court maintained the first trial's order to confiscate 2.5 billion won.

Former chairman Kim was indicted on charges including bribing Shinhan Financial Investment headquarters chief and former Lime vice president Lee Jong-pil in exchange for raising funds for Lead, and embezzling 1.79 billion won of Lead funds in collusion with former vice chairman Park of the same company.

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