Prosecution Search and Confiscate Office & House of Mayor Lee`s Top Aid

On Oct. 28th, it was confirmed that a division of Seoul District Prosecutors` Office conducted an examination of banking records and a search and confiscation on the office and home of Shin Hak-soo, who is now behind bars. Shin was a campaign strategist of Seoul`s Mayor Lee Myong-park, who is in turn suspected of having violated the election law during his campaigning for mayor`s office.

Through the examination and search, the prosecution reportedly has secured evidence showing that Mayor Lee and Shin conspired in illegally distributing campaign materials to the voters, and handing out and selling almost for free 7,770 copies of Lee`s book for campaign purposes.

Shin worked as a direct of East Asia Research Institute, which was set up to assist then candidate Lee in finding out campaign strategies, issues and policies, said the Prosecutors` Office.

One prosecutor confirmed, "Shin is denying the conspiracy charge and the involvement of Mayor Lee. Still, we need Mayor Lee for questioning. Thus, we have sent out a subpoena ordering him to report on Oct. 30th."

The Prosecutors` Office confirmed as well that it has also been conducting a probe into the claim filed by Millennium Democratic Party, alleging that Mayor Lee, during his campaigning, hired scores of tele-marketers and used them for campaigning purposes.

The prosecution is conducting a separate investigation on Mayor Lee. Rep. Kim Min-suk of Millennium Democratic Party complained, "Mayor Lee defamed me by false telling people that my educational information was wrong during the last June 13th local elections."

One prosecutor involved in this case said, "So far we have informed Mayor Lee and his lawyer of our intention to call him in, and asked for their cooperation in setting up the date. But Mayor Lee is not cooperating with us."

In response, Mayor Lee just said, “I have not received any subpoena yet.” But, he did not make any direct comment on whether or not he would report when he receives the subpoena.

Lee also said, "It is a political question in nature. It`s hard to answer for now. The prosecution has done nothing in this regard. But why does it suddenly want to question me? I don`t get it."

Sang-Rok Lee Kyung-Joon Chung myzodan@donga.com news91@donga.com