Investigating Flow Of The Lobby Funds, 1.2 Billion Won

The Seoul District Prosecutor`s Office, who is reinvestigating `Jin Seung-Hyun Gate` and `Jung Hyun-Jun Gate,` summoned Jin Seung-Hyung, Vice President of MCI Korea, and his father to investigate the flow of the lobby funds (1.25 billion won) that they gave to Kim Jae-Hwan, fromer Chairman of MCI Korea, in order to use for avoiding punishment, on 18th.

The prosecution grilled them about the truth of Kim`s previous testimony that, "According to Jin`s order, I gave 50 million won to Rep. Kim Bang-Rim of the ruling New Millennium Democratic Party (NMDP) and lent 40 million won to Jung Sung-Hong, a former economy director of the National Intelligence Service (NIS)."

According to the prosecution, Jin said, "I do not know Rep. Kim. Although I did not ordered those errands, the money matters could be true if Kim Jae-Hyun had testified as such."

An official of the prosecution said that, the prosecution checked the National Assembly`s vistor`s record to confirm Kim Jae-Hyun`s testimony, "I gave the money to Rep. Kim at his National Assembly`s office." But the prosecution could not find any record.

The prosecution is probing the flow of the lobby funds with the search and seizure warrants for Jin and Kim`s accounts. It is closely tracing the flow of the 1,500 bank checks for 100,000 won that Jin gave to Kim.

Kim testified, in last Nov., that he had lent 40 million won to Jung as checks. But Jin`s father said, "I received 40 million won from Jung after he borrowed from Kim." However, Jung argued that he neither borrowed nor paid back.

The prosecution is searching for Kim Jae-Hyun and prohibited the departure of related 4-5 people, including Kim and Jung.

After finishing the investigation on Kim and Jin, the prosecution will summon Rep. Kim and Jung.

gun43@donga.com