South Korea opposition leader indicted for misuse of public funds: Report

Prosecutors indicted Lee connected breach of spot charges, accusing him of misusing immoderate 106 cardinal won successful taxpayers’ wealth during his 2018-21 stint arsenic politician of Gyeonggi Province, conscionable southbound of Seoul, according to Yonhap.

The charges besides see accusations that helium allowed his woman Kim Hye-kyung to usage a authorities conveyance for backstage reasons portion labelling it arsenic authoritative usage, Yonhap said, citing the Suwon District Prosecutors’ Office, which filed the charges.

Demonstrators signifier a rally demanding the apprehension of South Korea’s main absorption Democratic Party person Lee Jae-myung adjacent the Seoul Central District Court successful Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. The motion reads “The apprehension of South Korea’s main absorption Democratic Party person Lee Jae-myung.” (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

Funds were besides spent to wage for pricey meals, groceries oregon laundry for Lee’s family, but documented arsenic expenses for meetings with nationalist employees oregon overtime pay, Yonhap said.

Lee, who narrowly mislaid to President Yoon Suk Yeol successful the 2022 predetermination and is wide expected to question to tally again successful 2027, has not publically commented connected the latest indictment, but has antecedently denied immoderate wrongdoing and described different charges against the mates arsenic “political retaliation.”

The Democratic Party connected Tuesday condemned the indictment arsenic “farfetched” and a “scheme to termination the president’s governmental foe.”

Calls to the Suwon District Prosecutors’ Office were not answered. Breach of spot is punishable by 10 years successful situation oregon a good of up to 30 cardinal won.

Any last situation condemnation oregon a good of 1 cardinal won oregon much would portion him of his spot successful parliament and his close to tally successful immoderate elections for the adjacent 5 years. The ruling People Power Party said the lawsuit erstwhile again raised the question whether Lee was qualified to clasp nationalist office.

In a related case, a territory tribunal past week fined Kim Hye-kyung 1.5 cardinal won for violating predetermination instrumentality by offering a repast to respective politicians’ spouses utilizing Gyeonggi provincial funds aft Lee launched his statesmanlike bid successful 2021.

On Friday, Lee was convicted for violating predetermination instrumentality and sentenced to a one-year situation word suspended for 2 years. Lee said that helium would appeal.