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The prosecution’s investigation into the alleged preferential treatment for the development of Daejang-dong has been going on for over a year and four months.
Initially, the investigation stopped at the line of former head of the Seongnam Urban Development Corporation, Dong-gyu Yoo, but after the change of government, the situation took a sharp turn when Director Yoo changed his position.
In the end, with the representative of the 1st opposition party on the prosecutor’s office photo line, the question of whether there is ‘physical evidence’ has now become the key to the investigation.
Reporter Na Se-woong summarized the process and issues so far.
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The suspicion of preferential development in Daejang-dong, which emerged in the fall of last year, shook the political situation of the last presidential election.
[윤석열 대통령/당시 국민의힘 대선 후보 (재작년 12월 29일)]
“Isn’t that just breach of trust? People were arrested under it.”
The prosecution’s first investigation ended with the prosecution of Yoo Dong-gyu, former head of Seongnam Urban Development Corporation, on charges of accepting bribes worth billions of won.
However, after the change of government and the change of the investigative team, the situation took a sharp turn when former general manager Yoo Dong-gyu, who was the destination of the bribe, changed his position, saying, “I am only a forwarder.”
Representative Lee Jae-myeong’s closest aides, former vice president Kim Yong and former chief Jeong Jin-sang, were arrested in turn, and eventually CEO Lee Jae-myeong stood on the prosecutor’s office photo line.
The key to the investigation is whether CEO Lee knew or not, and if so, to what extent did he know.
An official from the prosecution said, “The mayor of Seongnam was in the process of receiving and approving all reports,” and said, “In conclusion, CEO Lee is the final decision maker.”
On the other hand, CEO Lee refutes, saying, “I didn’t even know that Daejang-dong and his gang were hiding behind the banking consortium, and I couldn’t even know about the corruption that former general manager Yoo colluded with them.”
While the claims of both sides are running parallel, the key to determining the success or failure of an investigation is whether or not there is physical evidence.
Prosecutors believe that various preferential benefits and equity promises were reported through two people, Yoo Dong-gyu and Jeong Jin-sang, and approved by CEO Lee Jae-myeong, who was the mayor at the time.
However, as the former chief denies it, the reporting channel is cut off.
The prosecution is in a position to disclose not only statements in court, but also physical evidence and grounds.
The prosecution is expected to decide to deal with the new recruit by tying it up with the Seongnam FC donation case if the representative does not comply after requesting additional attendance from Lee.
This is MBC News Na Se-woong.
Video editing: Kim Jae-seok
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