Prosecutors Investigate Tax Evasion by Media Companies

Seoul District Prosecutor`s office investigating tax evasion by media companies has summoned and interrogated the former honorary chairman Kim Byung-Kwan and the head of Chosen Ilbo Bang Sang-Hoon on the 10th.

This is the last subpoena by prosecutors,and by this, interrogation of the 12 people, those who are sued by the National Tax Services including 5 stockholders and 7 former and current executives, have been accomplished.

Mr. Kim and Mr. Bang arrived at prosecutor`s office around 9:55 a.m. and 9:45 a.m. respectively and were questioned by the chief prosecutors separately.

Prosecutors announced that they would decide the rulings of the related suspects over the tax evasion.

An official said, ``After end of the next week, the Independence Day of Korea, the prosecutors will announce whether supplementary investigations are needed.``

Prosecutors will request for a pre- arrest warrant before they decide to restrain so that they do not have to re-summon them. And the court will decide whether they will arrest the restrained after the interrogation.

Meanwhile, prosecutors let the former president of Kookmin Ilbo and the former president of Hankook Ilbo Chang Jae-Kun return home around midnight.

Shin Suk-Ho kyle@donga.com