Special prosecutor Chae secured testimony from multiple people to support the close relationship between Lee Jong-ho and former division commander Lim Sung-geun, who are suspected of life-saving lobbying.
Lee's side even released a picture taken with actor Park Sung-woong, but it is unclear whether it will affect the direction of the special prosecutor's investigation.
Reporter Woo Jong-hoon's report.
[Reporter]
Lee Jong-ho, former CEO of Black Pearl Investment, is smiling broadly with actor Park Sung-woong in arms.
It was taken on July 30, 2022, and Lee's side released the photo in order to deny the suspicion that the two met, saying there was no former division commander Lim Sung-geun.
Lim, the former division commander, also came to the National Assembly recently and insisted that he did not know Lee and actor Park Sung-woong.
[Lim Seong-geun / Former Marine Corps 1st Division commander (Parliamentary inspection on the 17th): I still haven't met Lee Jong-ho. And how can that actor and I meet when we haven't even met Lee Jong-ho?]
As the photo was released, Lee Jong-ho and Park Sung-woong's friendship was confirmed, and Park made a different statement from Lee in the special counsel's reference investigation.
With Lee's introduction, he said he met with former division commander Lim and had a meal together.
The special counsel has already obtained statements from three people, including this statement, that they saw the two in one place between August and September 2022.
It was found that a bar official who said they visited showed a picture of former division commander Lim and stated, "I think it's right" to the special prosecutor's question, "Is this person?"
Another person who attended the drinking party was also said to have heard former division commander Lim in the special prosecution investigation, and former representative Lee, who arranged the meeting, called former division commander Lim a "general."
While former division commander Lim and Lee still deny meeting, the special prosecutor is focusing its investigation on the testimony that the two met even before the death of Chae as a "smoking gun" to investigate the suspicion of life lobbying.
I'm Woo Jong Hoon of YTN.
They're holding out by lying to the end.
I'm rather worried because it's a court that will say there's no evidence.