'Illegal Gambling Site Operation' Komatredeu CEO Lee Jun-seok Sentenced to Prison in Second Trial

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] A businessman with ties to a violent organization in Seongnam, who was suspected of being involved with Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, was sentenced to prison again in the second trial.

The Seoul Central District Court Criminal Appeal Division 8-2 (Presiding Judges Jang Seong-hak, Jang Yoon-seon, Kim Ye-young) on the 11th sentenced former Komatrade CEO Lee Jun-seok to six years in prison and ordered a fine of over 3.6 billion KRW in the second trial for charges including violation of the National Sports Promotion Act (opening a gambling site, etc.).

The court criticized, "The establishment and operation of gambling sites cause significant harm by encouraging gambling addiction among the general public," and added, "Considering the substantial amount of gambling money and the scale and duration of the crime, the nature of the offense is severe."

Lee, who was indicted while in custody and released on bail during the appeal trial in October last year, was detained again in court on this day.

In the first trial, Lee was sentenced to seven years in prison, fined 5 million KRW, and ordered to pay a fine of approximately 4.18 billion KRW.

Lee is known as a member of the international mafia faction, a violent criminal organization in the Seongnam area. Along with his older brother, other members of the organization, and hired employees, he is accused of establishing and operating illegal gambling sites with offices in China, Thailand, and other locations. It was investigated that from May 2011 to November 2017, the gambling funds deposited through the gambling sites amounted to approximately 238.3 billion KRW.

Lee is also separately indicted on charges of retaliatory assault, with the appeal trial ongoing. He was also a figure involved in allegations of collusion with Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate. During last year's National Assembly audit, Kim Yong-pan, a member of the People Power Party, raised suspicions that Komatrade provided Lee with support worth about 2 billion KRW, but Lee filed a defamation complaint with the police against Kim.

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