SEOUL: On Friday (Apr 25), former South Korean President Moon Jae-in claimed that prosecutors were engaging in political practices and misusing their authority, highlighting his indictment on bribery charges as a prime example.
He was indicted on Thursday for alleged bribery, making him the latest former president to encounter legal issues. This case involves the employment of his former son-in-law at a Thai airline from 2018 to 2020.
Moon described the indictment as unjust and accused the prosecutors of pursuing the case with a biased agenda.
“In addition to proving my innocence, I aim to shed light on the misuse and politicization of prosecutorial power,” he stated during a meeting with National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-sik.
Prosecutors have been looking into whether the appointment of former lawmaker Lee Sang-jik as head of the SMEs and Startups Agency was part of a deal linked to Moon’s former son-in-law securing a job and receiving a salary as well as living expenses at the Thai company controlled by Lee, according to a statement from Jeonju District Prosecutors’ Office.
Lee has also been indicted for bribery and breach of trust in connection with this case, as noted in the statement.
In response, Moon’s legal team denied the charges, asserting that his ex-son-in-law was compensated fairly for his work.
They further alleged that prosecutors were targeting Moon politically as a snap presidential election is scheduled for June 3, following the impeachment and removal of President Yoon Suk Yeol over a brief declaration of martial law.
