Posted February. 08, 2002 09:33,
Cha Jung-Ils Special Prosecution (SP), which is reinvestigating the `Lee Yong-Ho Gate` decided on the 7th to summon former Prosecution General Shin Seung-Nam in relation to the suspected pressure for the suspension of prosecution investigation of Lee Yong-Ho. Investigation schedule and procedure are being examined.
SP authorities said, "We felt the need to investigate Shin in order to clarify the suspicion. As soon as related investigations, including analysis of telephone details of related individuals like Lee Hyung-Taek, are complete, Shin will be summoned."
Special Prosecutor Cha hinted on the day that Shins summon will take place after the New Years holiday, as he said, "When Shin gets called in, I will carry out the investigation myself. But making preparations will take time."
SP summoned former Korea Deposit Insurance Corporation director Lee Hyung-Taek, President Kim Dae-Jungs nephew-in-law, on the day, and closely inquired about how Shin met the Prosecutions high officials on a golf course, and whether Lee Yong-Ho then requested favors or the cancellation of the investigation.
In relation to this, the aide of President Kims second son Kim Hong-Up, who is known to have received a request from Lee to help stop the investigation, Kim Sung-Hwan said in an interview, "Lee Hyung-Taek only told me that Shin Seung-Hwan received 50 million won from Lee Yong-Ho last September, and asked me whether I knew Shin. He did not ask me to tell Shin about that." Kim added, "Lee seemed to expect something, thinking that I was close to Kim Hong-Up, but I made it clear on the spot that I dont know anything about it."
SP is carrying out a detailed analysis of Lee and lawyer Yim Woon-Hees telephone records for the past 6 months, and is examining whether there were conversations with prosecution high officials who attended the golf meeting.
SP is to investigate how Lee went to play golf with high officials from the Public Prosecutors Office. It will also summon these officials if any suspicion appears.
Meanwhile, SP was issued a confiscation search warrant against former Kwangju prosecution assistant director Yim Yang-Woon, who was Seoul District Prosecutions third assistant director during the Lee Yong-Ho investigation in the year before last year. SP is currently tracking down Yims telephone records that were made to an informer, Yoon.
SP will prosecute Lee Hyung-Taek by next weekend, and announce interim findings.