Posted November. 17, 2003 22:57,
The Central Investigation Department of the Federal Prosecutors Office (Head Prosecutor Ahn Dae-hee), currently investigating the illegal campaign funds case, on November 17 acquired a search warrant for the legal confiscation of some of the accounts that the Grand National Party (GNP) used to receive illegal funds and is currently undergoing investigation.
A Federal Prosecutors Office personnel stated on this day that this is not the beginning of an overall investigation on all of the GNPs bank accounts, and that this is only the investigation of specific bank accounts speculated to have been used to transfer the illegal campaign funds.
The Federal Prosecutors Office is expected to call in GNP Congressman Na Oh-yun, former chairman of funds for the GNP during the last presidential election, as a reference for questioning over the handling of the official funds receipts.
In regards to the illegal campaign funds speculation concerning President Roh Moo-hyuns camp fund, the prosecutors commented, From the information we received from Uri Party Congressman Lee Sang-soo, former chief of General Affairs for the Election Polling Committee for the New Millennium Democratic Party during the last presidential election, the fact that the camp fund money was received before the presidential election while the receipt was written after the election introduces a serious speculation. The Federal Prosecutors Office also stated that it is also investigating on the probability of other corporations, such as the so-called top five corporations, which includes Hanwha, participating in the transferring of illegal funds to the political arena. The prosecutors stated that they will especially focus on the investigation concerning the probability of Hanwha E & C Corporation transferring illegal funds to politicians through subcontract firms during the last presidential elections in order to win the Kang-won Land Road construction contract.
In addition, the Federal Prosecutors Office is expected to once again call in the chairman of the Busan Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Kim Sung-chul, on November 19. A Federal Prosecutors Office personnel commented that they were expected to because the investigations concerning the speculations on Mr. Kim or former representative of Jang Soo Chun, Mr. Sun Bong-sul, does not coincide with the special probe investigations. They will further deepen the investigations without concern for the special probe.
The prosecutors are expecting to question Kim in order to clarify whether or not he really did indeed bribe Choi and whether or not it is true that Kim rented out a corporate building from his own company for no charge to the New Millennium Democratic Partys Campaign Branch in Busan.
It has been reported that Kim has personally commented on the matter by stating, Other than the one million won I gave to former presidential chief of staff, Mr. Choi, as allowance money, I am innocent of handing him illegal political funds. The Federal Prosecutors Office is also expected to once again call in chairman of Busans Changshin Textile Co., Ltd, Kang Keum-won, in order to further investigate whether or not he really did indeed hand over 950 million won to Sun Bong-sul.