[Anchor]
The prosecution has re-applied for an arrest warrant for Jeonseong Bae, known as Geonjin Beopsa, who is facing charges of violating the Political Funds Act.
Previously, the arrest warrant was dismissed, but the prosecution has announced that they have additionally confirmed the facts related to the arrest reasons.
Reporter Bae Min-hyuk, is it true that the prosecution has re-applied for an arrest warrant for Geonjin Beopsa?
[Reporter]
Yes, that’s correct.
The Seoul Southern District Prosecutors’ Office re-applied today (7th) for an arrest warrant for Jeonseong Bae, known as Geonjin Beopsa, who is facing charges of violating the Political Funds Act.
Previously, on the 19th of last month, the court dismissed the arrest warrant filed by the prosecution, stating that the date, exact amount, and method of money receipt by Jeon were not clearly confirmed.
The prosecution stated they have confirmed additional facts related to reasons for arrest, such as the risk of evidence destruction and flight, through continued investigation.
Jeon is suspected of receiving around 150 million won to assist in the election from a preliminary candidate who ran in the Liberty Korea Party primaries for the mayoral position in Yeongcheon, Gyeongbuk in the 2018 local elections.
Jeon reportedly testified during the prosecution’s investigation that he received money under the guise of ‘prayer expenses,’ but denied the charges claiming he returned some of it after the candidate lost.
Previously, Jeon was known to have been active in President Yoon Seok-yeol’s presidential campaign in 2022 and was also reported to have close ties with First Lady Kim Keon-hee.
He was also under suspicion of leveraging his relationship with the presidential couple to get involved in business interests.
Jeon’s second warrant review will take place at 2 PM on the 9th at the Seoul Southern District Court.
If Jeon’s custody is secured, it seems probable that the investigation, with the so-called ‘Beopsa Phone’ secured, will extend beyond the 2018 local elections to the broader political sphere.
This has been Bae Min-hyuk from the Social Affairs Department of YTN.
Video Editing: Byun Ji-young
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