DP chief Lee blasts 'petty' prosecutors after summons over card misuse

Former Democratic Party (DP) leader Lee Jae-myung said Monday that the prosecution’s request that he and his wife, Kim Hye-kyung, appear for questioning over allegations of corporate credit card misuse was a “petty and violent act of retaliation.”

Former Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung speaks to reporters in front of the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho District, southern Seoul, on Monday. [NEWS1]

Former Democratic Party (DP) leader Lee Jae-myung said Monday that the prosecution’s request that he and his wife, Kim Hye-kyung, appear for questioning over allegations of corporate credit card misuse was a “petty and violent act of retaliation.”

The Suwon District Prosecutors’ Office notified Lee of the questioning last Thursday over charges of breach of duty, according to sources on Sunday. Lee and his wife are accused of allegedly misusing a corporate card from 2018 to 2019 for personal use during Lee’s time as governor of Gyeonggi by making a former Gyeonggi provincial government official, surnamed Bae, use the card to buy food items.

"This is a ruthless administration using prosecutors to commit pretty and violent acts of retaliation," said Lee on Monday.

Lee attended the trial Monday at the Seoul Central District Court and said that the case "had already been cleared of charges through hundreds of search and seizures and hundreds of summons for several years,” adding that he and his wife will “endure and overcome even this childish behavior from this administration together with the people who support us.”

However, Lee did not answer reporters' questions about when he will appear before the prosecution and his position on the backlash from the DP’s move to impeach four prosecutors involved in cases against him.

The allegations were first made public by another former provincial government employee, leading to Bae's indictment on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act and his subsequent sentencing to a 10-month prison term, suspended for two years.

Last month, prosecutors indicted Lee on charges of involvement in an unauthorized transfer of $8 million to North Korea. Lee has criticized the indictment, saying the allegations "defy common sense."

Meanwhile, Prosecutor General Lee One-seok said Monday that notifying Lee Jae-myung and Kim of the summons was a “regular investigative procedure.”

At a press conference on Sunday, DP lawmakers said the summons "has come at a time when the special probe bill on a Marine's death is being passed and the impeachment of prosecutors is being discussed," calling the move a "show" to cover up public anger toward the Yoon Suk Yeol administration.

BY LIM JEONG-WON [lim.jeongwon@joongang.co.kr]