On the 30th, former Seongnam Development Corporation planning Deputy Minister Yoo Dong-gyu, who was released from the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, Gyeonggi, again claimed that President Lee Jae-myung was aware of various irregularities that occurred in Seongnam in the past, and that key suspects reversed their claims out of fear of power.
At about 12:19 a.m., as he walked out of the main gate of the detention center, former Deputy Minister Yoo said, "There were clearly irregularities in Seongnam at the time, and Lee Jae-myung, then Seongnam mayor, also knew," adding, "How could an approval authority stamp a seal without any thought." He went on, "This case (the Daejang-dong project) was an area Mr. Lee Jae-myung was extremely interested in," and said, "Claiming he did not know is admitting incompetence."
Regarding the recent reversals of statements about the president by key suspects including attorney Nam Wook, he said, "They turned to lies out of fear of power," adding, "One-party dictatorship is being realized, and a world has come where everything is turned upside down overnight by a single word from the president."
As for the upcoming trial, he said, "I think many judges are being swayed by power and are intimidated," and added, "Whatever anyone says, I will speak the facts."
Ahead of former Deputy Minister Yoo, Kim Man-bae, the major shareholder of Hwacheon Daeyu Asset Management, who left the detention center, said, "As I have continued to say in court, I deny the charges," adding, "In future trials, I will speak faithfully based on facts."
A claim was also raised that Kim received special treatment in the detention center based on his closeness with the president. Former Deputy Minister Yoo said, "Everyone else was scattered into different rooms, but only Kim Man-bae was in a single cell," adding, "The two were clearly colluding."
Attorney Nam Wook, who was released after Kim, also responded to a question about the reversal of statements by saying, "There will be an opportunity to explain in an organized manner. Won't the truth be revealed."
Former Deputy Minister Yoo and others were indicted on charges of obtaining a total of 788.6 billion won in unlawful gains during the Daejang-dong development project process and causing 489.5 billion won in losses to Seongnam Development Corporation.
In the first trial in Oct. last year, the court sentenced Kim and former Deputy Minister Yoo to eight years in prison each and attorney Nam to four years. They were taken into custody after the first ruling, but as the first formal appellate hearing opened in Feb. and the appellate proceedings were subsequently delayed, they were released after the six-month detention period expired.
The current Criminal Procedure Act sets the detention period at two months, but allows it to be extended twice at each instance. Therefore, detention is allowed for up to six months per instance.