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Paju mayor office raided
By Lee Kyung-min
Lee Jae-hong
By Lee Kyung-min
Police raided the office of Paju Mayor Lee Jae-hong Thursday as part of an investigation into his possible involvement in a bribery case.
His aide, also surnamed Lee, is currently under investigation for allegedly receiving hundreds of millions of won in bribes from a company based in the city in Gyeonggi Province.
The mayor is also suspected of being involved in the case.
Police raided the home and the office of the aide on Sunday. His car was also searched.
On Tuesday, police called him in for questioning.
Police said that they secured testimony from officials of the company who said they sought favors from the mayor by providing the money to the aide.
The aide went on leave on Sunday, citing health reasons, a city official said.
The aide served as a key campaigner for the mayor during the local election in June. He joined the mayoral office after Lee was elected.
The mayor and the aide are both graduates of Yonsei University.
This is not the first time that an incumbent Paju mayor has been investigated for allegations of bribery.
In June 2004, then Paju Mayor Lee Jun-won committed suicide by jumping off the Banpo Bridge over the Han River a day after a bribery investigation began.