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Suspects include aide to president’s brother, wife’s relative and former vice minister
Prosecutors are speeding up investigations into a series of corruption scandals involving President Lee Myung-bak’s close associates.
A new allegation erupted this week that a secretary of Grand National Party Rep. Lee Sang-deuk, the president’s elder brother, received some 700 million won ($610,980) from the scandal-ridden SLS Group.
The group’s chairman Lee Kuk-chul was indicted Monday for bribery and other charges. Lee has claimed he offered kickbacks to influential politicians and government officials in return for business favors.
Investigators secured statements from Lee and his associate, surnamed Moon, that they gave the money to Lee Sang-deuk’s secretary, surnamed Park. Moon, president of a logistics firm, allegedly played a key role in the group’s illicit lobbying activities. Moon was arrested on bribery charges last month.
Park was questioned as to why he took the money after having been arrested at his house in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, on Thursday.
Prosecutors suspect that the SLS chairman sought to lobby the president’s elder brother to save his firm, which was facing workout procedures in 2009 in the aftermath of the 2008 global financial crisis.
Lee Sang-deuk’s office denied the allegations.
Investigative authorities are also looking into the allegations that former Vice Minister of Knowledge Economy Park Young-joon was invited by SLS to a lavish drinking party while on a business trip in Japan in May 2009.
The favors given Park, including the provision of a rental car, are alleged to be worth 4 million won. Prosecutors have told Park to appear at their office for questioning this weekend.
Meanwhile, the prosecution has barred Kim Jae-hong, President Lee’s brother-in-law, from leaving the country as an allegation emerged that Kim was lobbied by the troubled Jeil Savings Bank.
Cheong Wa Dae officials expressed embarrassment, stressing that there had not been any serious corruption allegations involving Lee’s associates since he took office in February 2008.
The presidential office has promised to take proactive measures to prevent any corruption involving Lee’s relatives and aides to enable Lee gracefully wrap up his presidency, which ends in February 2013.
The Grand National Party is struggling to stay afloat after the former secretary of a GNP lawmaker was found to have launched a cyber attack on the election watchdog’s website on Oct. 26, when the crucial Seoul mayoral by-election was held.
By Song Sang-ho (sshluck@heraldcorp.com)
Prosecutors are speeding up investigations into a series of corruption scandals involving President Lee Myung-bak’s close associates.
A new allegation erupted this week that a secretary of Grand National Party Rep. Lee Sang-deuk, the president’s elder brother, received some 700 million won ($610,980) from the scandal-ridden SLS Group.
The group’s chairman Lee Kuk-chul was indicted Monday for bribery and other charges. Lee has claimed he offered kickbacks to influential politicians and government officials in return for business favors.
Investigators secured statements from Lee and his associate, surnamed Moon, that they gave the money to Lee Sang-deuk’s secretary, surnamed Park. Moon, president of a logistics firm, allegedly played a key role in the group’s illicit lobbying activities. Moon was arrested on bribery charges last month.
Park was questioned as to why he took the money after having been arrested at his house in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, on Thursday.
Prosecutors suspect that the SLS chairman sought to lobby the president’s elder brother to save his firm, which was facing workout procedures in 2009 in the aftermath of the 2008 global financial crisis.
Lee Sang-deuk’s office denied the allegations.
Investigative authorities are also looking into the allegations that former Vice Minister of Knowledge Economy Park Young-joon was invited by SLS to a lavish drinking party while on a business trip in Japan in May 2009.
The favors given Park, including the provision of a rental car, are alleged to be worth 4 million won. Prosecutors have told Park to appear at their office for questioning this weekend.
Meanwhile, the prosecution has barred Kim Jae-hong, President Lee’s brother-in-law, from leaving the country as an allegation emerged that Kim was lobbied by the troubled Jeil Savings Bank.
Cheong Wa Dae officials expressed embarrassment, stressing that there had not been any serious corruption allegations involving Lee’s associates since he took office in February 2008.
The presidential office has promised to take proactive measures to prevent any corruption involving Lee’s relatives and aides to enable Lee gracefully wrap up his presidency, which ends in February 2013.
The Grand National Party is struggling to stay afloat after the former secretary of a GNP lawmaker was found to have launched a cyber attack on the election watchdog’s website on Oct. 26, when the crucial Seoul mayoral by-election was held.
By Song Sang-ho (sshluck@heraldcorp.com)
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Articles by Korea Herald
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