Over Night Investigation on Former Justice Vice Minister Shin Kwang-Ok

Seoul District Public Prosecution (SDPP) summoned Shin Kwang-Ok, the former vice justice minister on 19th, and asked him whether he received the lobby funds from Jin Seung-Hyun, the former owner of MCI Korea, and whether he interrupted the private inquiry of Sajik-Dong team (investigation division of Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency) into Mr.Jin.

The Prosecution is likely to issue an arrest warrant against the former vice minister Shin for bribery as soon as it completes the investigation.

An high official of SDPP said, "Choi Tae-Kon, the former advisor of New Millennium Democratic Party and a lobbyist for Mr. Jin, who testified that he gave money to Mr. Shin, revealed several circumstantial evidences that disprove the elucidation of Mr. Shin."

The official said that Mr. Choi △ knew Mr. Shin well and met with him about ten times △ discussed `the problem of Jin Seung-Hyun` when he met with Mr. Shin △ met Mr. Shin with Mr. Jin in May and August last year △ confessed that he gave Mr. Shin 10 to 20 million won among 159 million won that was the lobby fund from Mr. Jin.

The vice-minister Shin has denied the suspicion on his involvement in the lobby saying, "I`ve never met Mr. Jin, and never received even 1 won from anyone. And it was for business that I met with Mr. Choi 4 or 5 times last year."

Meanwhile, an official of investigation division said, "There is no change on our plan to summon Mr. Kim regardless of his hospitalization." Kim Eun-Sung, the former Director of 2nd Division of National Intelligence Service (NIS) is under suspicion of misuse of authority and bribery connected with Jin Seung-Hyun Gate.

Seung-Ryun Kim srkim@donga.com