South Korean prosecutors on Thursday brought charges against liberal former President Moon Jae-in for bribery, alleging that a budget airline gave his son-in-law a high-paying job without requiring him to report for work during Moon's presidency.
The indictment against Moon adds him to a long list of South Korean leaders who have faced trials or scandals after ending their terms or leaving office.
Prosecutors allege Moon, who served as president from 2017 to 2022, received 217 million won (£114,385) in bribes from Lee Sang-jick, the founder of budget airline Thai Eastar Jet, in the form of salary, housing expenses and other financial support given to his son-in-law in 2018-20.
South Korean media reports that Moon's daughter and her husband divorced in 2021.
The statement from the Jeonju District Prosecutor's Office also said Lee has been charged with bribing Moon and breach of trust.
Prosecutors noted that Moon's former son-in-law was hired as a director at Lee's company in Thailand despite having no experience in the aviation sector.
The office said he spent only short periods of time at the company's office in Thailand and performed only minor duties, claiming he was working remotely from South Korea.
Prosecutors added that they found no evidence that Moon provided any political favors to Lee, even though Lee worked on Moon's election campaign, but that Lee likely expected his help to be rewarded.
Lee was later appointed head of the state-funded Korea SME and Startup Development Agency and was nominated by Moon's party to run in parliamentary elections while Moon remained in power, but prosecutors said they found no evidence Moon helped Lee gain those positions.
Moon has not yet commented on the situation.
Moon's indictment comes ahead of South Korea's June 3 presidential election to replace conservative President Yoon Seok-yeol, who was ousted over his botched martial law measures.
It is unclear whether Moon's indictment will impact the liberals' chances of regaining the presidency.
Observers say liberal presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung has a good chance of winning the election as conservatives remain reeling from Mr Yoon's resignation, although he too faces criminal charges.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
