Park’s Slasher Had Extra Bank Accounts

Ji Chung-ho who attacked Park Geun-hye, leader of the opposition Grand National Party, with a box cutter, testified to the joint prosecution and police investigation team that he had advanced money from private lenders through illegal credit card transactions. Also, the joint team found additional bank accounts in his name and embarked on tracing his transaction records.

On the allegation that he spent a total of seven million won, a monthly average of one million won with his credit card after being released from jail in last November, he stated that “The credit card uses are not the result of buying something, but of illegal advancing of money from private lenders.”

The investigation team said, “We have conducted investigation on bank accounts in his name with seizure and search warrant and found out two additional accounts. It remains to be seen if more in his name will be found.”

Until now, only one bank account in his name at National Agricultural Cooperative Federation was found after the prosecution searched his residence on May 22.

An official of the joint investigation team said “We think we will know whether he used another credit card after we trace transaction records on his bank account.” So far, his only confirmed credit card is Korea Exchange Bank’s card. Investigation shows that he opened a bank account at NACF this March to receive government benefits and received 174,910 won on three occasions.

“Slightly over one million won was deposited on eight occasions in his NACF account, including 198,600 won in support money he received when he was released from a rehabilitation center.”

The task force confirmed four cell phones of his. He lent cell phones to two of his friends in addition to a second-hand cell phone received from his friend, which is broken now, and a DMB-receiving (Digital Multimedia Broadcasting) phone bought on installments last October.

It traced phone records and found out that the person who Ji had talked for more than one hour several times in recent three months turned out to be his girlfriend. If necessary, the prosecution will summon her.

wing@donga.com peacechaos@donga.com