Court to hold 1st preparatory hearing of ex-President Moon's trial in June
Former President Moon Jae-in attends a memorial ceremony of late President Roh Moo-hyun in Bongha village, Gimhae, South Gyeonsang Province, May 23. Yonhap
A Seoul court will hold the first preparatory hearing of former President Moon Jae-in's bribery trial next month, legal sources said Monday.
Moon was indicted last month on charges of receiving bribes in the form of a salary and other payments worth over 200 million won ($146,537) for his then son-in-law, surnamed Seo, from Thailand-based budget carrier Thai Eastar Jet.
The preparatory hearing has been scheduled for 2 p.m. on June 17 at the Seoul Central District Court, the sources said.
Seo was appointed executive director at 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's appointment was made in exchange for hiring Seo at the airline, particularly given Seo's lack of experience in the airline industry at the time.
During a preliminary hearing, the court typically verifies the defendant's position and plans for future proceedings. Unlike the main trial, the defendant is not required to attend.