Millennium Democratic Leader Chyung Summoned Today for Questioning

Millennium Democratic Party leader Chyung Dai-chul is refusing to report to the prosecutor`s office for questioning. Chyung reportedly received a multimillion-dollar bribe from a shopping mall developer named Goodmorning City. In response, the prosecutor`s office will issue a bench warrant in his name.

"Some politicians have dismissed this white-collar crime as just another political scandal. In substance, it is the work of con artists. We resent them," snapped the top brass of the prosecution. So far, some Millennium Democrats have tried to pressure the investigative body into wrapping up its probe into the crime.

The Special Division 2 of the Seoul District Public Prosecutors` Office served a subpoena on Chyung yesterday afternoon. According to the Division, Chyung has to report to the prosecutor`s office at 10:00 a.m. today. Chyung has already announced that he would not comply with the subpoena.

"We called Chyung and told him to report at 10:00 a.m. today. But he requested a continuance, and we granted it. Thus, we believed he will come to our office at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow. It`s the time he asked for," confirmed Shin Sang-gyu yesterday, a senior prosecutor at the Seoul District Office.

He also said, "Contrary to our belief, he publicly said he would not come. What`s the point in waiting longer for him?"

"We haven`t said a word about his involvement or charges. Chyung himself told the reporters everything," stated Shin. This directly contradicts Chyung`s allegation that the prosecution was trying to rig the judicial process against him by leaking confidential information to the press.

A prosecutor familiar with the case said, on condition of anonymity, "Chyung is not a material witness. He is a suspect. That is why we summoned him. It is one of those fraud cases. Thus, we will use whatever means we have to prosecute him."

The prosecutor`s office reportedly has secured a considerable amount of evidence against Chyung. Chyung, according to the prosecution, received 420 million won from the arrested president of Goodmorning City, Yoon Chang-yul. In return, Chyung did various work for Yoon, said the prosecutor`s office.

Myoung-Gun Lee Jin-Young Hwang gun43@donga.com buddy@donga.com