newindianexpress - 3 month ago

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, has been accused by prosecutors of bribery in connection with a firm that is suspected of illicitly transferring $8 million to North Korea. SEOUL: In a surprise move, South Korea s opposition-controlled National Assembly voted Thursday to strip the leader of the opposition of his parliamentary immunity, potentially allowing his arrest over corruption allegations. Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, has been accused by prosecutors of bribery in connection with a firm that is suspected of illicitly transferring $8 million to North Korea. He is also accused of breaching his duties, which allegedly resulted in a loss of 20 billion won ($15 million) for a company owned by Seongnam city during his term as its mayor. Despite his party s majority in the 300-member parliament, the motion to lift Lee s immunity passed by a 149-136 vote. At least 29 members of Lee s party voted to strip his immunity, South Korean s Yonhap news agency reported. Lee has denied all the allegations against him, and on Wednesday asked his party members to reject the motion, which he called clearly illegal and unjust . This triggered escalating criticism from within the Democratic Party, local reports said, as Lee s stance contradicted his earlier promises to relinquish immunity if needed. Han Dong-hoon, South Korea s justice minister, described Lee as a serious criminal suspect and accused him of colluding with people with gangster backgrounds . The opposition leader also committed a serious crime akin to disrupting the foundation of the nation by attempting to undermine UN sanctions against North Korea , Han told parliament. Lee, 58, launched a hunger strike on August 31 over what he calls the government s incompetent and violent policies, especially its failure to oppose Japan s release of treated wastewater from the Fukushima reactor. He was transferred to a hospital on Monday, but this did not prevent prosecutors from issuing a request for an arrest warrant the same day. A former child factory worker who suffered an industrial accident as a teenage school drop-out, Lee rose to political stardom partly by playing up his rags-to-riches tale. But his bid for the top office has been overshadowed by a string of scandals. He faced scrutiny over a questionable land development deal and persistent rumours linking him to organised crime. At least five individuals connected to Lee s various scandals in the past have been found dead, many in what appeared to be suicides.

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