Prosecution Considers Indictment of 11 “Transfer Fee” Congressmen

The central investigation unit of the supreme prosecution office is actively considering indicting 11 politicians who are under suspicion of receiving bribery worth approximately 200 million won each when they entered the Grand National Party just before the presidential election, and for violating the political fund law.

In addition, the prosecution has disclosed on February 19 that as for the CEOs of the relevant conglomerates and high level officials who are under suspicion of giving bribes to the political world at the time of the presidential election back in 2002, they have started the investigation of those in earnest.

On this day, “in the case of not carrying out appropriate accounting measures or not reporting funds to the National Election Commission, accusations of violating the political fund law can be applied, even though it may have been recognized as a normal political fund,” remarked the chief of the central investigation unit, Ahn Dae-hee.

In addition, among the four or five politicians under suspicion for participating in the collection of illegal funds or the misappropriation of the election fund, one or two people who are selected as having the highest priority in the summons will be informed around February 20 to appear.

On this day, the prosecution has summoned Lee Jung-guen, the chairman of Buyoung, a medium standing construction company, and investigated the background of forming the slush fund and the scales of bribery granted to Roh’s camp. The prosecution has planned to indict Lee upon supporting evidence.

In advance of this, the prosecution suddenly summoned Shin Dong-in, the head of Lotte Shopping on February 18, and informed to Shin Dong-bin, the vice chairman of Lotte Group who currently resides in Japan to appear by 2:00 pm on February 20.

“We need to investigate Shin Kyuck-ho, the chairman of Lotte Group. However, he has not returned from Japan, and we have informed Shin Dong-bin to previously return home and go through this investigation procedure,” remarked a source from the prosecution.

In addition, the prosecution has disclosed that they have investigated Cho Yang-ho, the chairman of Hanjin Group and Kim Jun-ki, the chairman of Dong-bu Group both of whom are under suspicion of giving slush funds to Roh’s camp and the GNP. The prosecution needs to decide whether or not they will indict them after checking upon the nature of the crime such as the reason of forming the slush funds.

Wi-Yong Jung viyonz@donga.com