Aide’s Kin Summoned in Lobbying Probe

Prosecutors summoned a brother-in-law and a younger brother of presidential secretary Lee Jae-soon Friday in the ongoing JU Group influence-peddling investigation.

Prosecutors focused their investigation on verifying the authenticity of electronic sales records and two family members’ receiving extra allowances. The six family members of Lee, who worked as sales agents for JU Group, invested 1.38 billion won ($1.3 million) and, in return, received an allowance of 1.18 billion won, prosecutors said. In this regard, prosecutors have been scrutinizing sales slips and computer data confiscated from the company on Thursday for possible manipulation of the group’s electronic record. “The family members of high ranking politicians can be punished on charges of fraud if they colluded with JU Group to manipulate electronic records and received greater compensation than stated on their contract. However, you cannot press charges on them just on the ground that they received more than others,” a prosecutor said.

Prosecutors are also investigating Han Eui-sang (45), a confidant of the group`s Chairman Joo Soo-do (50), on suspicions of seeking illicit favors to a prosecutor he has been associated with since 1999. Prosecutor Cha Maeng-gi, who has had extensive experience in financial irregularities, has been dispatched to the investigation team since Friday to examine the charges against Joo filed by the Financial Supervisory Commission and the Korea Exchange.

will71@donga.com achim@donga.com