The Financial Supervisory Service plans to complete the investigation into the SAMBU Construction stock manipulation case within the first half of the year and decide whether to transfer it to the prosecution.
On the 10th, an FSS official noted, "It seems natural that the investigation will be completed within the first half," adding, "As the National Assembly is urging the investigation, we will transfer it to the prosecution as soon as possible."
In cases of unfair trading such as stock manipulation, the FSS investigates the suspects and, if specific charges are discovered, transfers the case to the prosecution. The prosecution, upon receiving the case, determines whether to indict it after conducting searches and forensics.
Previously, SAMBU Construction attended the Ukraine Global Reconstruction Forum held in Poland in May 2023 and was classified as a "Ukraine reconstruction stock," with shares that had rapidly surged from the 1,000-won range to 5,500 won. In the process, the major shareholders and related parties pocketed over 10 billion won in share price gains.
Subsequently, allegations emerged that Lee Jong-ho, a key figure in the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation case and former head of Black Pearl Investment, was involved.
In July of last year, Min Byung-deok, a Democratic Party member, remarked, "In the KakaoTalk chat room known as 'Wonderful Marines,' there was a mention of 'checking SAMBU,'" adding, "Two days later, Kim Keon-hee met with the wife of the President of Ukraine; shouldn't this period be investigated thoroughly?"
Lee is also a figure involved in the alleged lobbying for the acquittal of former Marine Corps 1st Division Commander Lim Seong-geun.
Currently, the FSS is investigating around 200 accounts that gained revenue during the problematic period to determine whether Lee was involved in the SAMBU Construction stock manipulation. This is based on the judgment that if Lee had orchestrated the stock manipulation, profits would have been shared. The intention is to find any connections with Lee among these accounts.
Meanwhile, on that morning, members of the Democratic Party in the National Assembly's Political Affairs Committee visited the 1st floor of the FSS in Yeouido, Seoul, to hold a press conference urging an investigation into the SAMBU Construction stock manipulation and will meet with Senior Deputy Commissioner Lee Se-hoon.