Another Close Associate of Lawmaker Lee Gwang-jae Received Five Million Won from Jeon Dae-wol

It was reported on May 15 by the prosecutors’ investigation team that Uri Party National Assembly member Lee Gwang-jae’s aide, Choi, who was also an election campaign staff member of Lee’s, received five million won from real estate developer and Highend representative Jeon Dae-wol (who is under arrest) sometime around April last year when the general elections were taking place, and used that money for private expenses.

Choi, who was summoned as a witness by the Seoul District Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigation Department III (Chief prosecutor: Hong Man-pyo) regarding Korail’s (Korea Railroad Company) suspicions on investing in Russian oil fields, is reported to have testified, “When I said that I would not take the money, three days before the elections, Jeon left the money in my car, so I used it for private expenses after the elections were over.”

The prosecution reportedly sent Choi back on May 9, since the amount of money received was small and Choi used it for private purposes.

On the other hand, the prosecution announced, that on May 14 it indicted Jeon for violating commercial laws and using fraudulent checks. Jeon was indicted for bouncing 3.9 billion won in checks in February, and the fraudulent payment of one billion won worth of stocks while founding KCO (Korea Crude Oil), an oil field development company last August.

The prosecution also announced it would further indict Jeon on other charges related to the oil field project.

As for Minister of Commerce, Industry and Energy Lee Hee-bum, who was reportedly briefed on the oil field project last September by former Vice Minister of Construction and Transportation Kim Se-ho (the administrator of Korail at time of the incident, and currently under arrest) will be difficult to be summoned this week by the prosecution because of his official trip schedule to the U.S.

woogija@donga.com