Probe on Alleged Influence Peddling of Kim Hong-Gul

Special investigative team (chief prosecutor Cha Dong-Min) of the Seoul District Prosecutor`s Office confirmed on April 23 that former director of the special investigation division of the National Police Agency (NPA) Choi Seong-Kyu (52-year-old) has purchased with a borrowed name ten thousand stocks of Tiger Pools International (TPI) between late 2000 and early last year through a mediation of CEO of Future City Environment Choi Kyu-Sun, and the team is focusing its probe on the circumstance of stock purchases.

The prosecution is specially interested in the fact that three policemen of the special investigation division of NPA investigated the selection process of sports lottery operator at the Seoul Olympic Sports Promotion Foundation in January last year by the order of former director Choi, and is probing whether former director Choi received the stocks in return for the interference on lottery operator selection.

The prosecution said that it requested, via the defendant lawyer, former Seoul deputy mayor Kim Hee-Wan to appear before the prosecution for questioning as soon as possible when Kim, who was noticed to appear at the prosecution in the day, requested the delay of appearance to take care of personal businesses.

Additionally, the prosecution summoned CEO of S construction company alias Mr.Shon in the day who gave 0.4 billion Won to Mr.Choi for establishment of an electronics company, and inquired about the money dealings and whether some of the money involved transferred to Hong-Gul, third son of the president Kim Dae-Jung."

Along with this, the prosecution is going to call on April 25 Representatives Yoon Yeo-Joon and Shin Kyong-Sik of the Grand National Party (GNP) to probe preliminary as plaintiffs or accusers against Rep. Sul Hoon of the Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) who claimed Mr.Choi gave 250 million Won to former GNP president Lee Hoi-Chnag through Rep. Yoon Yeo-Joongon.

In other story, NPA confirmed in the day that former director Choi did not register TPI stock holdings at the Public Officials Ethic Committee of the Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs (MOGAHA), and NPA is investigating the exact amount and purchase unit prices.

For this purpose, the police are investigating of TPI stocks holding status of not only former director Choi but also families and relatives of the three policemen who visited the sports promotion foundation after taking grant of the Public Officials Ethic Committee.

In relation to his possible involvement of the escape of former director Choi, director-general of NPA Lee Seung-Jae said, "I had little reason to help escape or to let go, and I was not in a position to do so," adding, " The reason of the late disclosure was because I was worried if I reveal the telephone conversation with former director Choi, I might be suspected."

MOGAHA fired former director Choi in the day for reasons of "damaged honor due to work walk-out and trouble making."

Hoon Lee dreamland@donga.com · myzodan@donga.com