Lawyers claim close associate of ex-first lady gave her $203,400 in checks

Lee Jong-ho, known as a close associate of former first lady Kim Keon Hee, arrives at the Seoul Central District Court in southern Seoul, Aug. 5. Korea Times photo by Park Si-mon

The lawyers for a close associate of former first lady Kim Keon Hee claimed Tuesday their client previously handed her 300 million won ($203,400) in checks, noting he told special prosecutors of the incident to cooperate with their investigation.

The legal team of Lee Jong-ho, former head of Blackpearl Invest, made the claim during the final arguments of his trial on charges of accepting money in exchange for promising to use his connections to secure a lighter sentence for an individual.

The lawyers said Lee disclosed the incident during earlier questioning by special counsel Min Joong-ki's team, citing it as an example of his cooperation with the team's investigation.

The remarks came after the special counsel team claimed Lee did not cooperate with their probe, saying he threw away his phone and created an alibi based on false evidence.

The team demanded the court sentence him to four years in prison, a fine of 10 million won and a forfeiture of 83.9 million won, arguing his offense dealt a "lethal" blow to the integrity of the criminal justice process.

Lee is accused of receiving 83 million won in total from June 2022 to February 2023 while promising to help the individual get a suspended term in a stock manipulation case involving a BMW dealer in Korea.

Lee allegedly flaunted his ties to the former first lady; her husband, former President Yoon Suk Yeol; and a judge, and claimed the defendant would receive a heavier sentence if he did not give him the money, according to the special counsel.

Meanwhile, Lee's lawyers argued for the case to be dismissed, citing procedural flaws. They have argued the case does not fall under the team's legal mandate of investigating corruption allegations surrounding the former first lady.

Lee's sentencing hearing will take place Feb. 13.