Police Complete Seizure Search at Seongnam City Hall After Over 6 Hours

Prosecutors Demand Supplementary Investigation... 'Search and Seizure' Executed

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Sehee] The police's search and seizure operation conducted to investigate the 'Seongnam FC sponsorship fund allegations' involving former Gyeonggi Governor and Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung ended after about 6 hours and 30 minutes. This is the first time the police have conducted a search and seizure at Seongnam City Hall in connection with the Seongnam FC sponsorship fund allegations case.

The Bundang Police Station in Gyeonggi Province deployed about 20 investigators to five departments at Seongnam City Hall?the Policy Planning Division, Urban Planning Division, Architecture Division, Sports Promotion Division, and Information and Communication Division?from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on the 2nd to carry out the search and seizure. The police reportedly secured related materials necessary for the investigation.

The police explained that the search and seizure was carried out on this day to secure necessary materials in response to the prosecution's request for supplementary investigation this year. Regarding this, Choi Seung-ryeol, head of the Gyeonggi Nambu Police Agency, said, "Among the prosecution's supplementary investigation requests, some parts were already identified through materials voluntarily submitted during the police investigation, but there are parts that need to be further supplemented. Accordingly, we conducted the search and seizure for more specific verification." He added, "Whether to conduct search and seizure on companies that made sponsorship donations will depend on how the investigation progresses."

The Seongnam FC sponsorship fund allegations involve former candidate Lee, who was the club owner while serving as mayor of Seongnam, attracting sponsorship funds totaling about 16 billion won from companies such as Doosan and Naver between 2014 and 2016, and these companies allegedly received conveniences such as building permits and land use changes.

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