The Prosecution Seize and Search Against Samsung Electro-Mechanics

The Supreme Public Prosecutor’s Office Main Investigation Team, recently focusing on the illegal fund raising for the previous general election, conducted a seizing and searching investigation against the headquarters of Samsung Electro-mechanics located in Suwon, Kyunggi Province and the residential house of its President, Gang Ho-moon in Yongin. The prosecution also seized upon Samsung Electro-mechanics’ contract company, Dong Yang Electronics, at Tae’an, Hwasung.

Chief of Investigation Planning, Moon Hyo-nam said, “We had caught some traces that Samsung Electro-mechanics had formed secret money line for the general election therefore, the court issued a `seize and search` warranty for us to conduct necessary investigations against the company.”

The prosecution dispatched some 20 investigators to Suwon to secure related materials, transaction details, accounting books, and computer hardware – they are now under close examination.

The prosecution suspected that Samsung Electro-mechanics could have formed secret money in order to provide to the political community by ballooning its trade profits with Dong Yang Electronics.

The investigation team also planned to summon up related staff, including President Gang, former senior executive of Samsung Electro-mechanics and the current representative director of Dong Yang Electronics, to interrogate them about the secret money.

Along with that, the prosecution is making sure to check if the 300 million won worth of subsidiary funds given to the Democratic Party by the three former Samsung affiliate’s presidents, including Cheil Industries President Ahn Bok-hyun, is linked with the alleged secret money formed by Samsung Electro-mechanics.

It is known that the prosecution’s review to first summon up Samsung Restructuring Headquarters Director, Lee Hak-soo, who is leaving the country, was prohibited by the court.

As the opposition Grand Nation Party submits additional materials relating to money receipts and supporting money accounts, the prosecution will first review them and then decide whether to call up the then supporting chief of Jung-ang Party Nah Oh-yeon.

Tae-Hoon Lee Jin-Kyun Kil jefflee@donga.com leon@donga.com