'Butler Gate' Ryoo Geung-seon CEO Special Prosecutor Appearance... 'Stock Manipulation Allegation' Lee Jong-ho Also Investigated

[Financial News] Ryoo Geung-seon, CEO of Kakao Mobility, and Lee Jong-ho, former CEO of Black Pearl Investment, appeared before the special prosecutor team (Min Joong-gi Special Prosecutor) investigating Kim Geon-hee.
CEO Ryoo appeared at the special prosecutor's office located in Jongno-gu, Seoul, around 10 a.m. on the 21st for a summons investigation. 
Kakao Mobility invested over 3 billion won in IMS Mobility (Be My Car), established by Mr. Kim Ye-seong, known as Kim Geon-hee's 'butler', in 2023. At that time, IMS Mobility was virtually in a state of capital erosion but received large investments from Kakao Mobility, HS Hyosung, and Korea Securities Finance.
The special prosecutor team is investigating whether Kakao Mobility, which was under suspicion of collusion at the time, made a payoff investment to Mr. Kim to resolve corporate issues. They plan to focus on whether Mr. Kim induced the investment using Kim Geon-hee's status and whether Kim Geon-hee was involved.
However, Cho Hyun-sang, Vice Chairman of HS Hyosung, who was supposed to appear that day, did not show up. The special prosecutor team stated, "Vice Chairman Cho has postponed the investigation schedule to tomorrow due to overseas commitments, but has not yet clarified his return and appearance date."
In addition to the 'Sambu Construction Stock Manipulation Allegation', Lee Jong-ho, former CEO of Black Pearl Investment, who is also under suspicion for the 'Deutsche Motors Stock Manipulation Allegation' and 'Im Sung-geun Lobbying Allegation', appeared before the special prosecutor while avoiding the press.
The special prosecutor team conducted a search and seizure at Lee's residence and vehicles in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, on the 19th, reportedly naming him as a suspect for violating the Attorney-at-Law Act in the search warrant. Lee is suspected of receiving over 80 million won in 25 instances from Lee Jeong-pil, the first main player in the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation case in 2022, promising to secure a suspended sentence in the trial. The special prosecutor team reportedly captured circumstances where Lee mentioned to Mr. Lee that he would talk to 'Kim Geon-hee or former President Yoon Seok-yeol to secure a suspended sentence'.
The special prosecutor team is expected to question Lee on △his involvement in the Sambu Construction stock manipulation allegation △whether he received money while mentioning a suspended sentence to Mr. Lee △whether he had contact with Kim Geon-hee.


theknight@fnnews.com Jeong Kyung-soo Reporter