Prosecutors Seek Prison Sentence Again in 2nd Trial for Former Commart Trade CEO Lee Jun-seok, Ex-Gangster from Seongnam

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The prosecution has requested a prison sentence again in the second trial for a businessman with ties to a violent organization in Seongnam, who has been suspected of being connected to Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea.

On the 12th, at the appellate trial of former Komatrade CEO Lee Jun-seok held before the 8-2 Criminal Appeals Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judges Jang Seong-hak, Jang Yoon-seon, Kim Ye-young), the prosecution asked the court to "sentence him to 15 years in prison as in the original trial."

In his final statement, Mr. Lee said, "Many of the criminal facts recognized as guilty in the original trial were not committed by me," and added, "Please examine carefully so that I am only punished for the acts I actually committed."

He continued, "When it was revealed that witnesses who testified in accordance with the prosecution's charges had committed perjury, I naturally expected a proper investigation to be conducted and the incorrect facts to be corrected, but in reality, that did not happen," emphasizing, "Please make sure to look into those parts as well."

Mr. Lee, known as a member of the international mafia faction, a violent criminal group in the Seongnam area, is accused of opening illegal gambling sites with other members of the organization, his older brother, and hired employees, operating offices in China and Thailand, among other places (violations of the National Sports Promotion Act, etc.).

From May 2011 to November 2017, Mr. Lee and others operated these gambling sites and received gambling funds totaling approximately 238.3 billion won from members.

The first trial recognized most of Mr. Lee's charges as guilty, sentencing him to 7 years in prison, a fine of 5 million won, and ordering the confiscation of approximately 4.18 billion won.

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