Foreign Travel Ban Imposed on Suspects in Min Fund Raising Investigation

On February 15, Special Division One of the Seoul district public prosecutor’s office (Kim Tae-hee, a senior prosecutor) announced that they confiscated and searched five or six places, such as Min’s offices and his accounting clerks’ offices, or private residences in regard to President Roh Moo-hyun’s in-law Min Kyung-chan’s suspicious fund-raising of 6.53 billion won.

Imposing a foreign travel ban on ten involved, including Min’s accounting clerks, the prosecution summoned and investigated four of them in the capacity of a reference to whether Min actually raised the funds.

The prosecution is giving careful consideration to a summons of a reporter for a weekly newsmagazine in the capacity of a reference who raised a suspicion of Min’s fund-raising, and an analysis of a tape recording Min’s remarks while the reporter was interviewing Min, if the journalist voluntarily submits the tape.

Meanwhile, it is being reported that, in the investigation after the prosecution was handed Min by the police on February 14, Min mentioned that he made a false statement for an interview regarding the fund of 6.5 billion won and never collected money.

Sang-Rok Lee myzodan@donga.com