Respondent to allegations of requesting payment of 3 million dollars
North Korea’s smart farm business denies payment of $5 million
▲ Lee Hwa-yeong, former vice-governor of peace in Gyeonggi-do. Lee Hwa-young, former vice governor of Gyeonggi-do, who is suspected of remittances to North Korea, made a statement in court reversing some of his previous position, saying, “I requested Ssangbangwool to promote the governor of Gyeonggi-do to visit North Korea.”
On the 18th, the 11th Criminal Division of the Suwon District Court (Chief Judge Shin Jin-woo) held the 40th trial on charges such as bribery under the Aggravated Punishment Act for Specific Economic Crimes and violation of the Foreign Exchange Transactions Act.
On that day, when the judge asked, “Recently, the prosecution has issued an opinion saying that there has been a slight change in the defendant’s position on the facts of the previous prosecution, and please explain this.” ) He stated that he had said, ‘Please promote a visit to North Korea once in Ssangbangbang’.”
The lawyer continued, “The defendant went to the ‘2nd International Convention for Peace and Prosperity in the Asia Pacific’ held in the Philippines in July 2019. I know that he stated that he said ‘different’.”
However, he did not disclose details of whether Lee requested Ssangbangwool to pay the Gyeonggi Province governor 3 million dollars for the visit to North Korea.
In addition, regarding North Korea’s $5 million smart farm support project that Gyeonggi-do decided to bet, it revealed its position to the effect of denying, saying, “It is the same as the previous position.”
On the other hand, on the same day, the prosecution requested former vice-governor Lee as a witness to the court, saying that it is necessary to verify whether the statements made by former deputy governor Lee in the prosecution suspect’s interrogation report are correct.
Prosecutors said, “Like the co-defendant in this case, Vice Chairman Bang Yong-cheol, Ssangbang-wool, I believe that it is fair for former vice-governor Lee to interrogate witnesses.” Looking at it, it seems right that the witness newspaper should be conducted as soon as possible.”
However, the former vice-governor’s side argued that interrogation of witnesses against the accused would be subject to the penalty of perjury, and that it should be conducted through the interrogation of the accused.
Regarding this, the prosecution said, “We will consider whether to withdraw all the witnesses except Ahn Bu-soo, chairman of the Asia-Pacific Peace Exchange Association, and give our opinion.” If the defense side refuses to interrogate the witness, it will proceed with an interrogation of the former vice-governor as a defendant.
The 41st trial against former deputy governor Lee will be held on the 25th.
Reporter Lim Tae-hwan
2023-07-18 12:46:11
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