South Korea opposition leader Lee indicted for misuse of public funds

South Korea's main opposition leader Lee Jae-myung was indicted on Nov 19 over allegations that he used more than 100 million won (S$96,300) of public funds for personal purposes when he was a governor, Yonhap News Agency reported.

Lee, chair of the Democratic Party, is already facing four other trials including for bribery and other charges mostly tied to a US$1 billion (S$1.34 billion) property development scandal. His legal battles have cast a cloud over his political fate and could jeopardise his expected bid to contest the next presidential race.

Prosecutors indicted Lee on breach of trust charges, accusing him of misusing some 106 million won in taxpayers' money during his 2018-21 stint as governor of Gyeonggi province, just south of Seoul, according to Yonhap.