Kim Keon-hee's special prosecution team (Min Jun-ki's special investigation) filed for arrest warrants against key executives, including Chairman Lee Il-jun and former Chairman Cho Sung-ok, related to the SAMBU Construction stock manipulation allegations. This is the first time the special investigation team has requested an arrest warrant since it began the investigation on the 3rd.
On the afternoon of the 14th, the special prosecution team announced, "We have requested today for arrest warrants for Lee Il-jun, the current chairman of SAMBU Construction; Cho Sung-ok, the former chairman; Lee Gi-hoon, the current vice chairman of SAMBU Construction and the chairman of Well Biotec; and Lee Eung-geun, the former CEO of SAMBU Construction."
They are accused of deceiving investors into believing that SAMBU Construction would actively pursue reconstruction projects in Ukraine between May and June 2023, thereby artificially inflating the stock price and taking undue profits. Among them, the vice chairman is considered a key figure who planned the Ukraine reconstruction forum, and the former CEO is reported to have been in charge of signing business agreements between SAMBU Construction and foreign corporations.
After searching the SAMBU Construction headquarters and other locations on the 4th, the special prosecution team consecutively summoned and investigated them. The team also suspects that former Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong and Kim Keon-hee may be involved in this stock manipulation allegation.
Earlier, on the 3rd, the special prosecution team conducted searches at a total of 13 locations, including the SAMBU Construction headquarters in Jongno, Seoul, six company sites, and seven residences of suspects. On the 4th, they summoned and investigated former CEO Lee Eung-geun, followed by Chairman Lee Il-jun, former CEO Jung Chang-rae, former Chairman Cho Sung-ok, Vice Chairman Lee Gi-hoon, who is also the chairman of Well Biotec, and former Well Biotec CEO Gu Se-hyun.