Prosecution Considers Arrest Warrant for Rhee In-je

The prosecution, who is investigating illegal fund raising for the presidential election, decided to request an arrest warrant for Rhee In-je, who is suspected of receiving 250 million won from the Grand National Party (GNP), if he keeps refusing summons.

“If Rhee does not appear by tomorrow, I will consider taking legal action such as a request for an arrest warrant,” said Ahn Dae-hee, a senior prosecutor at the Supreme Public Prosecutor’s Office, on February 23. It was alleged that the prosecution notified Rhee to appear on the 23rd, but that he did not on the excuse of a plenary session of the National Assembly.

In case that Rhee insists that “he did not receive illegal funds offered by the GNP,” the prosecution decided to consider summoning Rhee’s wife Kim Eun-sook, who is alleged to have received 250 million won delivered by Kim Yoon-soo, former adviser to Rhee.

In addition, the prosecution said that it was considering drastic action for Lotte vice chairman Shin Dong-bin staying in Japan, who refused summons again on this day following last week.

The prosecution will summon three to four politicians who are suspected of making use of illegal fund, including an Uri Party lawmaker Shin Gye-ryoon, who is expected to be summoned on the 24th on the suspicion of receiving illegal funds from Kim Young-hoon, the former president of Good Money.

Tae-Hoon Lee jefflee@donga.com