Former lawmaker Kwak Sang-do, a former member of the People’s Power, who was suspected of helping the developers in Daejang-dong and receiving large sums of money through his son, is leaving the Seoul Detention Center when the arrest warrant was dismissed early on the 2nd. yunhap news
Former lawmaker Kwak Sang-do, a former member of the People’s Power, was released from detention on the 2nd, who was accused of helping the developers of Daejang-dong and receiving large sums of money through his son.
On the same day, chief judge Seo Bo-min of the Seoul Central District Court in charge of warrants dismissed the arrest warrant requested by the prosecution for Kwak on charges of mediation under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes (Special Cases Act).
The court explained the reason for dismissal, saying, “There is room for contention over whether a crime has been established, so it seems necessary to guarantee the right of defense of the suspect.”
Former lawmaker Kwak is suspected of helping Hwacheon Daeyu Asset Management, which participated in the Daejang-dong development project, form a consortium with Hana Bank, and taking 2.5 billion won in the name of severance pay through his son who worked at Hwacheon Daeyu.
The Seoul Central Prosecutor’s Office’s dedicated investigation team (team leader Kim Tae-hoon, 4th deputy chief prosecutor) has been investigating and securing statements to the effect that former lawmaker Kwak prevented the consortium’s bankruptcy crisis in the process of investigating the developers in Daejang-dong.
When the top level of H E&C, which had the subsidiaries participate in the competing consortium, proposed to Kim Jeong-tae, chairman of Hana Financial Group, to break the consortium with Hwacheon Daeyu and join them, Kim Man-bae asked former lawmaker Kwak to exert influence on Chairman Kim.
On the 27th of last month, the prosecution requested a preliminary arrest warrant for Kwak on the 29th, two days later. Prosecutors believe that former lawmaker Kwak met Man-bae Kim at a restaurant in Seocho-gu, Seoul in September 2018, after the Daejang-dong development was completed, and asked for compensation for helping the business. As evidence to support this, it is known that the prosecution presented the receipt paid by Kim Man-bae at the restaurant at the time.
Former lawmaker Kwak Sang-do, a former member of the People’s Power, who was suspected of helping the developers in Daejang-dong and receiving large sums of money through his son, appeared at the Seoul Detention Center in the early morning of the 2nd and answered questions from reporters when the arrest warrant was dismissed. yunhap news
Prosecutors also secured a statement from an employee who was in charge of the real estate finance department at Hana Bank to the effect that “the plan to participate in another consortium within the company was being pursued, but it was suddenly canceled, and it was arranged to form a consortium with Hwacheon Daeyu.” It is also said that he presented it to the courts. In this regard, Hana Bank said, “The employee has never stated that the plan to participate in another consortium was pursued but failed.”
It is reported that former lawmaker Kwak’s representative refuted that he had never met Kim that day, offering an alibi that he was working on another job at the time. It was also pointed out that the prosecution was unable to specify the subject or method of mediation, and there was no evidence to substantiate the charges other than the statements of those involved.
Meanwhile, former lawmaker Kwak, who went out after midnight while waiting for the results of the warrant review at the Seoul Detention Center, told reporters, “I am grateful for the court’s wise judgment.” back home
Former lawmaker Kwak said to reporters after completing the interrogation of the suspect (warrant substantive examination) before arrest on the same day, “Even during the interrogation process, the details, date, and location of the request (from Hwacheon Daeyu) did not come out precisely.” I wonder if there is anything real,” he said.
As the warrant of former lawmaker Kwak Kwak, which is known for the most detailed statements of those involved in the so-called ‘5 billion club’ and the circumstances of bribery, was dismissed, the prosecution’s investigation to investigate lobbying and superior lines in the future is expected to take a hit.
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