Ex-presidential secretary summoned in NSP scandal

The Central Investigation Bureau of the Supreme Public Prosecutor¡¯s Office, currently investigating the alleged diversion of money from the then Agency of National Security Planning (NSP) to the former ruling party, summoned Hong In-Gil, former presidential secretary for government administration, Saturday for questioning on how the money was gathered and whether Cheong Wa Dae was involved.

Based on the questioning of Hong and Lee Won-Jong, former presidential secretary for state affairs, who was summoned the previous day, the prosecution plans to decide whether to investigate former president Kim Young-Sam and his second son, Hyun-Chul.

The prosecution intensively questioned Hong on whether Cheong Wa Dae had intervened in the creation and distribution of the 25.2 billion won which allegedly flowed from the then NSP to the Democratic Liberal Party during the June 27 provincial elections in 1995.

Hong reportedly said that he knew nothing about the diversion of NSP funds, that he made no reports to former President Kim and received no orders from him concerning the case.

A prosecution official said that Hong was summoned based on the judgment that he was familiar with the former president's funding sources.