Contradictory Statements Through Third Parties

The central investigation team of the Supreme Public Prosecutor`s Office reported on December 26 that it is tracking the use of 11.2 billion won in bonds that Samsung gave the General National Party during the presidential election last year.

Senior prosecutor Moon Hyo-nam said, “Seo Jung-woo, the former legal advisor to the GNP`s former presidential candidate Lee Hoi-chang, insisted he had just given bonds to the GNP’s financial bureau director at first. Later he said he himself had changed the bonds into cash, and given that to the financial bureau. Prosecutors are investigating to see if the bonds were converted to cash and how the cash was delivered.”

The team also found that Seo met ex-GNP Chairman Lee’s party members, Lee Jung-lak and Yoo Seung-min, for a meeting in mid-November right before Seo was arrested.

However, prosecution sources said, “We are still trying to verify the reason those three met. If necessary, we will call Lee and Yoo to investigate.”

Prosecutors indicted Seo for receiving 36.2 billion won in illicit funds from the nation’s conglomerates such as Samsung, LG and Hyundai Motor.

The prosecution will investigate an official with the GNP, Kim Young-il, on December 29 as Kim reported that Lee stated that he had received funds from Seo.

Jin-Kyun Kil leon@donga.com