Suspicion Of Ahn’s Involvement In Illegal Fund-Raising

On December 12, the Prosecutor-General’s Office (PGO) received a statement that Lee Kwang-jae, a close confidant to President Roh, delivered 100 million won received from Moon, the chairman of Sun & Moon Group, to Uri Party lawmaker Ahn Hee-jeong in November of last year.

Accordingly, the prosecution summoned Ahn and interrogated him about whether he had received illegal funds from Lee, and whether he reported that money to President Roh before using it as campaign funds for the presidential election.

The prosecution received the clue suggesting Ahn’s receipt of illegal funds from sources other than Sun & Moon, and is investigating the actual process of its delivery and receipt. It is also investigating whether Ahn received “congratulatory money” after the presidential election. The prosecution will inflict criminal punishment on him should his receipt of illegal funds be confirmed.

The prosecution decided to determine the degree of criminal punishment to be inflicted upon Lee as soon as the interrogation of Ahn related to the 100 million won that Moon provided to Lee was completed.

A superintendent prosecutor said, “If the 100 million won was delivered to Ahn as Lee stated, it will be difficult to issue an arrest warrant for Lee,” adding, “but we are not considering Lee’s statement reliable.”

According to the results of the account review, the 100 million won was not deposited in the account of the Democratic Party as Lee insisted, and the prosecution is investigating the possibility that Lee or Ahn spent the money for personal use while assisting President Roh during the presidential election.

In addition, because of Lee’s remarks as a witness on the receipt of money and other valuables during the inspection of state administration in October of last year, where he said, “It is absolutely not true,” the prosecution is considering charging him with providing false testimony.

Meanwhile, the prosecution is extending the investigation after receiving a clue suggesting that 10 million of the 100 million won that Kim Sung-rae, the former vice-chairman of Sun & Moon, received from chairman Moon was delivered to another politician who has not yet been mentioned in the probe.

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