SEOUL, South Korea — South Korean prosecutors indicted former liberal President Moon Jae-in on bribery expenses Thursday, saying {that a} funds airline gave his son-in-law a profitable no-show job throughout Moon’s time period in workplace.
Moon’s indictment provides him to an extended record of South Korean leaders who’ve confronted trials or scandals on the shut of their phrases or after leaving workplace.
Prosecutors allege that Moon, who served as president from 2017-2022, acquired bribes totaling 217 million received ($151,705) from Lee Sang-jik, founding father of the funds provider Thai Eastar Jet, within the type of wages, housing bills and different monetary help offered to Moon’s then-son-in-law from 2018-2020.
South Korean media reported that Moon’s daughter and her husband have been divorced in 2021.
The Jeonju District Prosecutors’ Workplace mentioned in a press release that Lee was additionally indicted on expenses of paying bribes to Moon and committing breaches of belief.
The prosecutors’ workplace mentioned Moon’s former son-in-law was employed as a director-level worker at Lee’s firm in Thailand regardless that he had no work expertise within the airline trade. The workplace mentioned he spent solely transient intervals on the firm’s workplace in Thailand and carried out solely minor duties whereas claiming to be working remotely from South Korea.
The prosecutors’ workplace mentioned it had not discovered proof that Moon carried out political favors for Lee, who labored on Moon’s marketing campaign, however that Lee probably anticipated his help to be repaid.
Lee was later named the pinnacle of the state-funded Korea SME and Startups Company and was nominated by Moon’s celebration to run for parliament whereas Moon was in workplace, however the the prosecutors’ workplace mentioned that it hasn’t discovered any proof that Moon helped Lee win these positions.
There was no fast response from Moon.
Moon’s indictment comes earlier than South Korea elects a brand new president on June 3 to succeed conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was ousted over an ill-fated imposition of martial legislation. It’s unclear if Moon’s indictment will affect prospects for liberals to win again the presidency.
Learn Extra: South Korea’s Impeachment Saga Ends. But Its Troubles Are Far From Over
Observers say liberal presidential aspirant Lee Jae-myung is closely favored to win the vote as conservatives stay in disarray over Yoon’s ouster, though Lee additionally faces prison trials on allegations of corruption and different expenses.
Most previous South Korean presidents have been embroiled in scandal within the closing months of their phrases or after leaving workplace. In 2017, Park Geun-hye, South Korea’s first feminine president, was faraway from workplace and arrested over an explosive corruption scandal.
Park’s conservative predecessor Lee Myung-bak was additionally arrested on a spread of crimes, years after leaving workplace. Moon’s pal and former liberal President Roh Moo-hyun jumped to his loss of life in 2009 amid corruption investigations into his household.
Moon is greatest recognized for his push to reconcile with rival North Korea as he met North Korean chief Kim Jong Un thrice and facilitated the beginning of the high-stakes nuclear diplomacy between Kim and President Donald Trump.
Moons’ supporters credit score him with reaching now-stalled cooperation with North Korea and avoiding main armed clashes, however opponents say he was a naive North Korea sympathizer who ended up serving to the North purchase time to advance its nuclear program within the face of worldwide sanctions and stress.
