Prosecutors Investigates Some Politicians for Taking Bribes

The Central Investigation Section (Chief Prosecutor Ahn Dae-hee) of the Supreme Prosecutor`s Office, which is investigating the ‘15billion won + α illegal fund scandal of Hyundai,’ is planning to summon and interrogate the politicians involved, once they are confirmed by Kwon Roh-kap, a former Millennium Democratic Party Supreme Council member who is detained on suspicion of receiving 20 billion from the Hyundai Group on Aug. 17.

The prosecutors also decided to summon and investigate the former minister of Culture and Tourism Park Ji-won on Aug.19, at around 10 a.m. He is currently detained in the Seoul Detention House for his involvement in the ‘Illegal Remittance to North Korea Scandal’ by an Independent Prosecutor`s investigation.

The prosecutors said, “By investigating where Mr. Kwon had used the 20 billion won, we`ll find out which politicians Mr. Kwon gave the money to and whether that money was given in return for something.”

The prosecutors will summon Mr. Kwon this week and inquire how he got the money from the Hyundai Group and where he used the money.

The prosecutors are also planning to carry out an investigation on the source and destination of 11 billion won which Mr. Kwon testified as a political fund he had borrowed himself.

The prosecutors will probe the former Minister Park on whether he received 15-billion-won CD (certificate of deposit) from the Hyundai Group and where he used the fund, and if his charges are proved, they will charge him again for taking bribes.

The prosecutors are known to have secured testimonies on former Minister Park`s charges during the summoned investigation of the late Hyundai Asan Chairman Chung Mong-hun and the former president of Hyundai Securities Lee Ik-chi. Kim Yeong-wan, who is in the U.S., is known to have submitted testimony on the issue as well.

According to sources, however, former Minister Park is maintaining the position that he had never received 15 billion won, as he said during the Independent Prosecutor’s investigation.

The Prosecutors are planning to focus on investigating Mr. Kwon and the former Minster Park this week and to summon all the politicians involved in the ‘Hyundai Scandal’ from as early as next week.

Wi-Yong Jung Jin-Young Hwang viyonz@donga.com buddy@donga.com