2023-08-04 15:42:00
Independent Rep. Yoon Kwan-seok (left) and Rep. Lee Seong-man.
Independent Rep. Kwan-seok Yoon, who is suspected of creating and distributing money envelopes for the election of former CEO Song Young-gil at the 2021 Democratic Party Convention, was arrested on the 4th following re-applying for an arrest warrant. It has been 53 days since the arrest motion was rejected at the plenary session of the National Assembly on June 12. However, independent lawmaker Lee Seong-man escaped arrest.
At around 11:30 p.m. on the same day, Judge Yoon Jae-nam, who was in charge of examining the substance of the arrest warrant for Rep. Yoon, announced the reason for the arrest, saying, “There is a risk of destroying evidence.”
On the other hand, Chief Judge Yoo Chang-hoon, who is in charge of arrest warrants, who judged whether Rep. In light of this, it is difficult to see that there is a concern regarding destroying evidence.
The prosecution requested the first arrest warrant for the two lawmakers on May 24, during the session of the National Assembly, but as the National Assembly rejected the motion for arrest, the warrants were dismissed without the two lawmakers being judged by the court. This time, as the prosecution requested an arrest warrant while the National Assembly was in recess, the two lawmakers were judged by the court without the privilege of non-arrest. The prosecution is said to have emphasized the need for arrest by presenting the attendees of the meeting of lawmakers and the movement of lawmakers at the time of the money envelope distribution during the warrant review.
Analysts say that the investigation into the money envelope case at the Democratic National Convention has reached a new turning point as independent Rep. Yoon Kwan-seok, who was pointed out as the key to the money envelope case, was arrested on the 4th. With the arrest of Rep. Yoon, the prosecution is expected to launch a full-scale investigation targeting 20 incumbent lawmakers and former CEO Song Young-gil who allegedly received money envelopes.
Summarizing the coverage of the Dong-A Ilbo, the prosecution said in a three-hour warrant review that day, “Rep. Yoon scattered money envelopes, and the situation in which active members of the Democratic Party, including Rep. Lee, received the money,” said 180 pages regarding Rep. Yoon and Rep. Lee. It is known that 160 pages of PowerPoint (PPT) materials were presented. It contains a list of attendees and a record of the movement of lawmakers at a meeting where Rep. Yoon believes that on April 28 and 29, 2021, 20 envelopes containing 3 million won were distributed in the small meeting room of the National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee and at the member’s hall.
Here is a transcript of Lee Jeong-geun, former vice president of the Democratic Party (in prison), which contains the context of the two lawmakers’ involvement in the money envelope case, and Kang Rae-gu, former chairman of the Korea Auditors Association (in prison), saying, “I admit that I gave 30 million won to Congressman Yoon.” Statements made were also presented. It is known that the two incumbent lawmakers emphasized the concern that they might attempt to destroy evidence by conciliating accomplices or persons involved in the case or conspiring to collude in statements, as well as the fact that the general public would be arrested even for small purchases in elections for the president of the association.
Rep. Yoon denied the allegations before arrest, but might not avoid arrest. Rep. Yoon met with reporters immediately following the warrant review and argued that “there was no fact that money was delivered and nothing was delivered.” Right before the warrant review, Rep. Lee insisted, “I am not, but assuming, even legally, the simple messenger is innocent.” In March 2021, he denied the allegations of giving former Vice-Chancellor Lee 1 million won for the running cost of the primary camp and 10 million won to former chairman Kang, etc.
An official from the Democratic Party said, “It means that the court has acknowledged the reality of the money bag sorghum to some extent, so everyone is insecure.”
Reporter Heo Dong-joon hungry@donga.com
Reporter Yoo Chae-yeon ycy@donga.com
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