“I’m not in contact with anyone on Lee Jae-myung’s side.”
Payment of attorney fees, suspicion of remittance to North Korea, etc.
Most of them did not answer and said, “We will faithfully conduct the investigation.”
Former Ssangbangwool Group Chairman Kim Seong-tae, who arrived at Incheon International Airport on the morning of the 17th, is walking for entry procedures. Reporter Park Joon-cheol
The plane on which Kim Seong-tae, former chairman of Ssangbangwool Group, arrived at Incheon International Airport around 8:20 am on the 17th.
On this day, former Chairman Kim replied, “I don’t know at all” to the reporter’s question, “Have you ever contacted Lee Jae-myeong or anyone close to him?” He continued, “The people who worked hard because of me were hurt,” and “everything will be revealed at the prosecution.” He also said, “I am sorry for causing concern (to the public),” and “I will faithfully participate in the prosecution’s investigation.”
Former Chairman Kim appeared in a blue shirt, navy jacket, and gray pants. A large number of reporters gathered at his arrival hall. The reporters continued to ask questions regarding the payment of attorney fees and the suspicion of remittance to North Korea, but former chairman Kim only answered some of them and did not answer most of them. Former Chairman Kim went through his immigration procedures and exited Incheon Airport with prosecutors at around 9:10 am.
Prosecutors plan to transfer former Chairman Kim to the Suwon District Prosecutors’ Office for investigation. It is expected that an arrest warrant will be requested by the late followingnoon of the 18th at the earliest following questioning former Chairman Kim of embezzlement charges and his whereregardings following escaping.
The prosecution, which has secured former Chairman Kim’s recruit, is expected to intensively pursue various allegations that the Ssangbangwool Group has received so far. Prosecutors are conducting a comprehensive investigation into the Ssangbangwool Group, including violations of the Capital Markets Act, including false disclosures related to convertible bonds, payment of attorney fees, and suspicion of remittances to North Korea.
The alleged violation of the Capital Markets Act received by Ssangbangwool is that it falsely disclosed related information in the course of trading 20 billion won convertible bonds (CB) issued by Ssangbangwool from 2018 to 2019. The suspicion of remittance to North Korea is that Ssangbangwool mobilized dozens of executives and staff including affiliates around 2019 to smuggle 6.4 million dollars (equivalent to 7.2 billion won at the time) to China and deliver it to North Korea. Prosecutors suspect that the profits obtained unfairly through the expedient issuance and distribution of convertible bonds by the Ssangbangwool Group may have been used to pay for the attorney fees of Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung.
Regarding the suspicion, CEO Lee said, “I have never seen the face of a person named Kim Seong-tae.” In an interview with KBS, former Chairman Kim also said, “There is no opportunity to meet (CEO Lee) and there is no reason to meet him, so why am I meeting him?” He never even talked on the phone.”
