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South Korea's ex-President Moon Jae-in indicted over bribery charges
South Korean former President Moon Jae-in speaks during a ceremony of the 103rd anniversary of the March 1st Independence Movement Day in Seoul, South Korea, March 1, 2022. File Image / Reuters
South Korea's former President Moon Jae-in was indicted over bribery charges in the latest scandal that hit the country after the impeachment of Yoon Suk Yeol. The prosecutors found the former president guilty of allegations of facilitating the employment of his ex-son-in-law at an airline.
According to South Korean news outlet Yonhap, Moon and his daughter Da-hye are accused of receiving bribes in the form of salary and other payments to Moon's former son-in-law, surnamed Seo. The prosecutors alleged that these bribes were coming from Thailand-based budget carrier Thai Eastar Jet.
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Seo was appointed as the executive director of the airline in 2018 after the company's founder and former two-term lawmaker Lee Sang-jik was appointed head of the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency. Prosecutors suspect that Lee was appointed to the role in exchange for Moon's son-in-law getting hired at the airline.
They supported their argument by showing Seo's lack of experience in the airline industry at the time. Moon was indicted for bribery, while former lawmaker Lee Sang-jik was indicted for bribery and breach of trust, Jeonju District Prosecutors' Office said in a statement.
Moon, Lee and their legal representatives are yet to respond to the allegations. 'Moon was indicted for corruption for receiving 217 million won (USD 150,000) in connection with facilitating the employment of his son-in-law at an airline,' the Jeonju District Prosecutors' Office said
With inputs from agencies.
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