Prosecutors investigate Hanvit Bank auditors

The prosecutors handling the Hanvit Bank illegal loan scandal have requested warrants for the confiscation of the bank accounts of involved persons to extensively track down possible kick-backs. Since the start of the investigation, no seizures of the bank accounts were made. The current move by the prosecutors suggests a more determined stance of the Prosector's Office.

The Seoul District Prosecutor's Office¡¯s prosecutor Kwak Moo-Keun have begun to trace the trail of the funds through the examination of the involved core group of individuals such as Kwanak Branch manager Kim Young-Min. The prosecution has so far requestd warrants to freeze the bank accounts of nine individuals including Kim. However, the court has determined that the prosecutors lacked sufficient justification for the seizure of the bank accounts, presenting an obstacle to the prosecutors' investigation.

The prosecutors are also looking into whether the Hanvit Bank's auditors discovered in January the massive loans made by the Kwanak Branch, yet failed to act in the matter. To do so, the prosecutors have requested the directorial and audit department heads to appear at the prosecutors' office for interviews. Also, to determine whether Hanbit Bank vice president Lee Soo-Kil was involved during the internal audit, the prosecutors have summoned Manager for interrogation.

Lee Soo-Hyung sooh@donga.com