Lee Hwa-yeong, an aide to a former peace vice governor in Gyeonggi-do, who was accused of receiving corporate cards and vehicles in exchange for supporting the Ssangbangwool Group’s North Korean project, claimed, “I received and used Ssangbangwool’s corporate card, not Lee Hwayoung. “
On the 14th, at the hearing of the 11th Criminal Division of Suwon District Court (Presiding Judge Shin Jin-woo), Mr A (female, 49) appeared as a witness in the 20th trial of the case related to bribery and violation of the Political Fund Act by the former lieutenant governor of Lee. Mr A is an acquaintance who has been close to him for almost 30 years since the early 1990s, when former deputy governor Lee worked as a secretary to a former legislator. He worked in the local election camp of former lawmaker Ahn Hee-jung, and also served as the general affairs team leader of 2012 presidential candidate Moon Jae-in’s camp.
After taking up his position as peace vice governor in Gyeonggi-do in July 2018, former deputy governor Lee was accused of using a corporate card worth about 200 million earned on 2972 occasions until October 2021 with a corporate card received by Vice Chairman Bang Yong-cheol of Ssangbang-wool. In addition, between June 2019 and August 2022, Mr A was listed as an employee of Ssangbangwool and allegedly received about 100 million earned over 39 times in the name of salary.
On this day, Mr. A said, “In July 2018, I received a call from Ssangbangwool and visited the Shindang-dong office building and received a corporate card directly from Vice Chairman Bang.” Mr A’s testimony contradicts the court testimony of Vice Chairman Bang, who said he requested and distributed Ssangbangwool’s corporate card even after the former deputy governor took office.
When the prosecution presented details of the use of a corporate card, believed to have been used by former lieutenant governor Lee himself, Mr A said, “I found out about the former lieutenant governor’s movement through the secretary and visited him and pay for it.” I wanted to do something because I was a lifesaver who helped me.”
Details of Ssangbangwool’s corporate card usage include household appliances such as refrigerators, air conditioners, and TV sets worth 10 million won delivered to the former Vice Governor’s home; Jeju Island car rental is also included. Regarding this, Mr. And that he made some payments to the former deputy governor Lee or handed over a corporate card and that he used it.
At the same time, Mr. And that former lieutenant governor Lee paid him back in cash for the payment he made. In addition, he said, “I admit that I did not use the corporate card for the intended purpose,” but said, “Former Vice Governor Lee may have known that I was using the corporate card I received from Ssangbangwool, but I have never said otherwise.”
Mr A also responded to the question, “I didn’t work for Ssangbangwool, but wasn’t the former deputy governor asked to be listed as an employee at Ssangbangwool and give me a salary instead?” I know that Bogo Ssangbangul gave her a corporate card and hired her as an employee.”
