Prosecutors Raid Chairman Kang’s Office

Prosecutors have begun investigation into the possibility of Grand National Party (GNP) chairman Kang Jae-sup’s involvement in the case of fines being paid on behalf of Daegu Seo-gu district’s GNP members.

On May 2, the Daegu District Public Prosecutors’ Office searched Kang’s office in Pyeongri-dong, Seo-gu, Daegu, seizing two computer hard drives and account books. It is said that the computers hold data such as the party’s organization table and current information on party members.

An official from the prosecution said, “The search conducted on this day was not directed toward Chairman Kang in particular, but was done to investigate Kang’s Daegu office chief accountant, Mr. Noh (45), for accepting money from Daegu Seo-gu district mayor Yun Jin and paying fines on behalf of party members.” However, it is said that despite district mayor Yun’s claims that he paid the fines, prosecutors are also investigating the possibility that chairman Kang was involved in the fine payment.

On this day, prosecutors also searched district mayor Yun’s office and residence, seizing three computer hard drives and documents amounting to two boxes of notes and pocketbooks, and are currently analyzing the data. After the prosecution determines the source and character of the money that was submitted as fines, possibly early next week, they will summon district mayor Yun for questioning.

On April 23, district mayor Yun said, “I could not ignore the difficulties that the GNP party members were undergoing to pay fines for accepting holiday gifts ahead of the May 31 local elections in 2006 from K (62), who was planning to run for office in the Seo-gu district, so I paid the fines instead.”

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