Police reopen probe into DP lawmaker's wife over alleged public fund misuse

▲ Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Byung-kee (Yonhap)

DP lawmaker-police

Police reopen probe into DP lawmaker's wife over alleged public fund misuse

SEOUL, Jan. 19 (Yonhap) -- Police on Monday launched a full-scale reinvestigation into allegations that Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Byung-kee's wife used a local councilor's corporate credit card for personal expenses years ago.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency (SMPA) said it conducted search and seizure operations at Seoul's Dongjak Ward council, and the home and office of a former Dongjak council member, surnamed Jo, in the morning in connection with the allegations involving Kim's wife, known only as Lee.

Lee is suspected of personally using Jo's corporate card between July and September 2022. The southern Seoul ward of Dongjak is Kim's constituency.

Police previously conducted an investigation into Lee's suspected misuse of public funds from April to August last year but cleared her of all charges, triggering another allegation that Kim had pulled some strings to press the Dongjak Police Station to cover up the case.

Indeed, former aides of the lawmaker claimed in November last year that the police improperly closed Lee's case due to external pressure.

In the reinvestigation, the SMPA recently summoned and questioned a former Dongjak Police Station official suspected of leaking investigation information to Kim. The SMPA also summoned one of Kim's former aides Monday as a witness.

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