Prosecutors to investigate Pres. Park’s election camp staff for alleged graft

As a part of probe on the graft scandal involving politicians and government officers triggered by a suicide note of the late Keangnam Enterprises Chairman Sung Wan-jong, the prosecutors’ special investigation team (led by Chief Prosecutor Moon Moo-il), reportedly on Friday, is planning to summon and question the deputy spokesman surnamed Kim of President Park Geun-hye’s 2012 campaign camp, who was pointed out by the enterprise’s financial vice president as “the recipient of 200 million won (approx. USD 184,000) around the 2012 presidential election.”

It is reported that the prosecutors have forbidden Kim from leaving Korea and has been secretly investigating his surroundings. The prosecution suspected that the 2 million won that the late Chairman Sung claimed to have given Rep. Hong Moon-jong for presidential election campaign fund could be the 2 million won the financial vice president Han delivered to Kim. The roles that Kim and Rep. Hong held at the 2012 election camp have been investigated by the prosecutors.

Among the eight names written in the late chairman’s suicide note, the third suspect to be summoned, following South Gyeongsang Province Governor Hong Jun-pyo and former Prime Minister Lee Wan-gu, is likely to be determined by Kim’s testimony. However, prosecutors need to secure further evidence as Kim is denying the allegation of taking bribe. Against this backdrop, the probe may gain momentum depending on the result of prosecutors’ probe on Sung’s overseas business partner known as A, who said in an interview with the Dong-A Ilbo that Sung divided 600 million won (approx. USD 552,000) into 100 million won up to 300 million won and packed them in three bags to give three influential politicians in the ruling and opposition parties.

Prosecutors were reported to have not questioned the former prime minister too hard during investigation on the graft allegation on Thursday, just as they probed Governor Hong. As Lee answered he couldn’t remember meeting with Sung, the prosecutors reportedly did not present evidences including the time and venue that the ex PM took the bribe.

Lee testified, “Normally, lawmakers from the same region visit the election camp office. It is highly likely for Sung, who was an incumbent lawmaker then, to have visited my office. But I do not recall seeing him.”

jks@donga.com