Police have decided not to hand over former leader of the ruling People’s Power Party (PPP) Lee Jung Suk to prosecutors to charge him with receiving sexual favors as a bribe from a businessman almost 10 years ago.
Lee, 37, was accused of receiving paid sex from Kim Sung-jin, the CEO of tech company I-kaist, in 2013 and tried to cover it up by promising to pay the whistleblower.
Kim’s side claimed that Lee promised to arrange a meeting with then-president Park Geun-hye in return. At the time, Li was close to Park, as she appointed him as leader of the party’s collective leadership two years ago.
Li’s membership in the party was suspended for six months due to a scandal erupted by the party’s ethics committee in early July, which led to his dismissal as party leader.
The Seoul Police Department, which is handling the case, has decided not to file charges of alleged sexual bribery because the 7-year statute of limitations has expired, police said.
Meanwhile, the police continue to investigate other allegations related to Lee, including an alleged cover-up.
Source: Yonhap