In connection with the Deutsch Motors stock manipulation case, first lady Kim Keon-hee's legal team on the 9th raised suspicions that there may be a connection between the Kim Keon-hee special counsel and Joo Jin-woo, a journalist. They said KakaoTalk content virtually identical to investigation records held only by the special counsel was repeatedly disclosed on the program of Joo Jin-woo, a journalist at Jusaine.
The legal team said in a press release, "Joo disclosed, as is on air several times, investigation materials possessed only by the special counsel," and added, "On the broadcast on the 8th as well, KakaoTalk messages appeared in a form almost identical to the investigation records." They continued, "It is suspected that the special counsel is providing investigation materials only to Joo," and said, "We demand that the connection between the two sides be clarified."
Earlier, the editorial writer Joo revealed on YouTube "Joo Reporter Live" a KakaoTalk exchange that Lee Joon-su and Kim had on May 12, 2015. According to the broadcast, when Kim asked, "What should we do about Deutsch?" Lee replied, "Are you still trading stocks these days? Still that? You got married lol." When Kim said, "I'm not married. Average price 4,500 won," Lee said, "If you're living together, that's married. Deutsch is stupid," and added, "I'll check later and let you know. There are tons of good things in the market." Kim said, "Please be sure to let me know."
Lee has been known as the person who managed Kim's account during the first operation of Deutsch Motors and has been pointed to as the "main player" and "accomplice." But the legal team has denied this, saying, "Lee Joon-su is not an accomplice of Deutsch Motors."
The legal team said, "Around September 2012, Lee deceived Kim Ki-hyeon by saying, 'If you provide Deutsch shares as collateral, I will buy them,' took 15,000 shares of Deutsch Motors as collateral, disposed of all of them, and then disappeared," adding, "This is a separate act of deception against Kim Ki-hyeon and does not constitute an accomplice in Deutsch stock manipulation or a main player." Kim is known as another "main player" of Deutsch Motors.
The legal team also argued, "If Lee Joon-su were an accomplice, then Lee Jeong-pil, who moved in tandem, would also have participated in the second round of price rigging and should have been punished in the Deutsch stock manipulation case, but only the first round of price rigging was recognized for Lee Jeong-pil, and he received a dismissal judgment," adding, "Even this alone makes it clear that Lee was not an accomplice."
They also rebutted some reports about statements made during a drunk driving stop. The legal team said, "Lee never told police investigators that he 'drank to celebrate Kim's nonindictment,'" and conveyed, "He only stated to the effect that, with the Deutsch investigation over and the case wrapped up well, he met acquaintances for the first time in a while and drank excessively."
Regarding reports hinting at suspicions of an extramarital relationship between Kim and Lee, they said, "We will not be lenient going forward." The legal team said, "We did not respond despite malicious reporting that continued during the trial, but from now on we plan to pursue all possible legal procedures."
Meanwhile, the Kim Keon-hee special counsel led by Min Joong-ki on the 9th indicted Lee under detention on charges of violating the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act. The special counsel believes Lee, in sequence with former Deutsch Motors Chairman Kwon Oh-soo, Lee Jong-ho, and Kim, engaged in price rigging to artificially raise Deutsch Motors' stock price from Sept. 11 to Oct. 22, 2012, and obtained unjust gains of about 13 million won in the process.