Kim defamed over Twitter: Cops

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Kim defamed over Twitter: Cops

Gyeonggi police will ask the prosecution today to indict Gyeonggi Gov. Lee Jae-myung’s wife Kim Hye-kyung for allegedly violating election laws and committing defamation over Twitter.

The Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency said Saturday that it would send the case to the Suwon District Prosecutors’ Office today.

The police investigation into the case revealed that the Twitter handle @08_hkkim belonged to Kim, was active since 2013 and posted thousands of political messages supporting Lee and defaming his political rivals. Some of the political figures publically defamed were Rep. Jeon Hae-cheol of the ruling Democratic Party (DP) and President Moon Jae-in.

The police refused to elaborate on specific details of the case, however.

“Since Kim is vehemently denying such accusations and is also considering legal action, we have decided not to go public with any more specific details about the case,” said the police in a statement.

Kim denied the charges against her.

“The police did not include any information that might be a disadvantage to them and rushed to claim that my client was behind the [controversial] Twitter account,” said Kim’s lawyer Na Seung-cheol.

However, the police refuted these claims on Saturday. They said that on numerous occasions, the same photos were posted to Lee’s social media account, Kim’s social media account and the controversial political Twitter account just minutes apart from each other.

“It is hard to consider such evidence just a coincidence,” the police said. Lee has responded to the police’s decision by criticizing them for “playing politics.”

“[The police’s recommendation to indict my wife] was already decided. State power should be fair and police should approach the investigation to pursue the truth and not for political means,” Lee said in a Facebook message posted on Saturday after Kim’s prosecution probe was made public.

Lee went on to say that he will not be swayed by the allegations against his wife and will continue to focus on his duty as a governor.

The opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) and Bareunmirae Party urged the governor and his wife to formally apologize to the public for their disappointing behavior as public officials.

“The truth behind the suspicions surrounding Lee is gradually revealing itself,” said Rep. Yoon Young-seok, chief spokesmen for the LKP on Saturday.

BY JEONG JU-WON [jeong.juwon@joongang.co.kr]
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