'Funds Transfer to North Korea' Lee Hwa-young's Side "Prosecution Conducts Indiscriminate Search Including Trial Memos"

The office of former Gyeonggi Province Deputy Governor for Peace Lee Hwa-young, who is implicated in the 'Ssangbangwool North Korea remittance suspicion,' claimed 'violation of the right to defense' in relation to the prosecution's recent search and seizure.

Former Gyeonggi Province Deputy Governor for Peace Lee Hwa-young [Image source=Yonhap News]

Lee's side pointed this out at the 15th trial held on the 24th at the Suwon District Court Criminal Division 11 (Presiding Judge Shin Jin-woo). Lee is on trial, charged with receiving bribes worth several hundred million won from Ssangbangwool in exchange for supporting inter-Korean economic cooperation projects.

The defense attorney stated, "The prosecution indiscriminately took documents exchanged between the defendant and the defense counsel in the detention center room where the defendant is incarcerated the day before yesterday, the witness application list prepared in consultation with me, and notes on evidence records," emphasizing, "Conducting a search and seizure at this stage while the trial is ongoing infringes on the defendant's rights under the Criminal Procedure Act and the defense counsel's right to defense."

He added, "We hope that the notes, letters, and documents organized by the defendant will be returned immediately," and said, "The court should further consider the defendant's position, which is vulnerable compared to the prosecution wielding strong power, and if there is anything to warn, please issue a warning to the prosecution."

The prosecution rebutted, "The search and seizure of the defendant was lawfully executed under a warrant issued by the court (for violation of the Foreign Exchange Transactions Act), unrelated to the current trial," and stated, "To avoid infringing on the right to defense, we waited until the meeting between the defendant and the defense counsel ended, and seized copies, not originals, of the documents."

Furthermore, they added, "Waiting until the trial ends and then investigating after evidence has been destroyed disregards constitutional principles," and "The defendant was in charge of the entire North Korea-related business, and this is an important part that can prove the quid pro quo relationship involving Ssangbangwool's participation in the North Korea business."

The court said, "Since the prosecution represents state power, the defendant faces the trial with limited defense personnel, namely a lawyer," and requested, "While the prosecution argues that the search warrant is lawful, please ensure that no problems arise."

Separately from the bribery charges, Lee is suspected of requesting former Ssangbangwool Group Chairman Kim Sung-tae to pay $5 million of Gyeonggi Province's smart farm project funds to North Korea. The prosecution listed Lee as an accomplice in foreign currency smuggling (violation of the Foreign Exchange Transactions Act) in Kim's indictment.

On the 22nd, the prosecution conducted a large-scale search and seizure at more than 20 locations, including the Gyeonggi Provincial Government Governor's office, Deputy Governor's office, and residences of former senior officials of the Gyeonggi Provincial Government. The day before, investigators also secured related materials by visiting the detention center room where Lee is incarcerated and two of his residences.

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