Prosecution to File Charge against Rep. Choi

The Seoul Prosecutors` Office summoned Rep. Choi Jae-seung of the ruling Millennium Democratic Party for questioning on May 14 concerning the charge that he received 30 million won in kickbacks from a coal manufacturer for mediating a deal with KEPCO.

According to the prosecution, Rep. Choi took more than 30 million won of the total 260 million won that head of the company Gu initially offered to former lawmaker Son Se-il between 1998 and 1999.

The prosecution said that Rep. Choi received 10 million won and 20 million won in 1998 and 1999 respectively and returned the same amount of money to Gu only last year. It is investigating whether he received more money from Gu than the 30 million won.

˝Since Rep. Choi returned the money two years later as things went wry, the fact that he received money in the first place is a subject of investigation,˝ said a source from the prosecution, hinting that the office would file a charge against the lawmaker.

Myoung-Gun Lee gun43@donga.com