South Korean opposition leader Lee Jae Myung said Wednesday that he is innocent of corruption charges against him but agreed to testify before prosecutors, whom he accuses of «fabricating» such accusations against him.
The Seoul Central Public Prosecutors Office has summoned him to testify on January 27 in the framework of an investigation into an urban development project in Daejang Dong, in Seongnam, south of Seoul.
The investigation was launched when Lee was mayor of the said town. «Since I have been summoned, I will go again to testify even though I have done nothing wrong,» he said, but not before clarifying that he will attend on January 28 and not on the day of the summons.
«I have to resolve some issues at the national level and work for the party. Given the circumstances, I have to work during the week, so I will go on January 28 and not on the 27th,» he explained, according to information from the Yonhap news agency.
In addition, he accused prosecutors of «abusing their power in private interests» by trying to «impose charges that do not really exist». The case centers on a series of allegations that an asset management company, Hwacheon Daeyu, may have made huge profits in connection with a Seongnam development project.
Prosecutors suspect that the company reportedly made 404 billion won (about 300 million euros) in profits from «dubious» deals approved by Lee when he was mayor.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
