Supreme Court Confirms Not Guilty Verdict for Former National Tax Service Chief Lee Hyun-dong in 'Kim Dae-jung Background Investigation Involvement' Case

Hyun-dong Lee, Former Commissioner of the National Tax Service / Photo by Honam Moon munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] Former Commissioner of the National Tax Service Lee Hyundong, who was indicted for involvement in a secret operation to investigate former President Kim Daejung alongside the National Intelligence Service during the Lee Myungbak administration, has been acquitted by the Supreme Court.

On the morning of the 27th, the Supreme Court (Presiding Justice Ahn Cheolsang) upheld the lower court's verdict of not guilty in the appeal trial of former Commissioner Lee, who was charged with violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (loss to the national treasury) and other charges. The court stated, "There is no error in the lower court's judgment regarding factual misrecognition, implied intent, joint perpetration, or aiding and abetting."

Previously, former Commissioner Lee, who served as Deputy Commissioner and Commissioner of the National Tax Service from May 2010 to March 2012, was prosecuted for involvement in a secret operation called the 'Davidson Project' alongside the National Intelligence Service, which investigated allegations of overseas slush funds of former President Kim. He was accused of wasting 535 million won and 50,000 dollars, funds that were supposed to be used for North Korea-related operations.

He was also charged with receiving 120 million won in cash as operational funds from former Director of North Korea Operations Kim Seungyeon, who was instructed by then-NIS Director Won Sehoon in September 2011.

The first trial acquitted former Commissioner Lee, citing a lack of credibility in witness testimonies. The second trial also upheld this judgment and dismissed the prosecution's appeal, concluding that there was insufficient evidence to prove that former Commissioner Lee received the funds in question and that holding him criminally responsible was inappropriate.

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