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| ▲ Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung (Yonhap) |
opposition leader-court
Lee requests recusal of judge in N. Korean remittance case
SEOUL, Dec. 16 (Yonhap) -- Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung has requested the recusal of a judge trying his bribery case related to a company's allegedly illegal money transfers to North Korea about five years ago, judicial officials said Monday.
Lee's side filed the request with the Suwon District Court on Friday, seeking to recuse judge Shin Jin-woo in charge of his bribery case, they said. Under the Criminal Procedure Act, a defendant may request the recusal of a judge if there is concern that the judge will conduct an unfair trial.
The chair of the main opposition Democratic Party was indicted in June on charges of being involved in underwear maker Ssangbangwool Group's unauthorized remittance to North Korea.
He is accused of asking the group to illegally transfer US$8 million to North Korea between 2019 and 2020, when he was serving as governor of Gyeonggi Province, through then Vice Gov. Lee Hwa-young to facilitate his planned visit to Pyongyang.
Due to the recusal request, the trial proceedings against Lee have been immediately suspended.
Lee's lawyers have expressed concern about Shin, who previously handed down prison terms to the former Gyeonggi vice governor over some legal violations related to the North Korean remittance case.
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