Choi Kyu-Sun Allegedly Received One Billion Won

Special investigation office of the Seoul District Prosecutor`s Office (chief prosecutor Cha Dong-Min) issued an arrest warrant to CEO of Future City Environment Choi Kyu-Sun (42-year-old) in charges of receiving kickback with mediation in violation of the Act for Compounded Punishment on Certain Crimes on April 18. Mr. Choi is in the center of alleged influence peddling cases involved in also with the third son of the president Kim Dae-Jung, Hong-Gul.

Mr. Choi allegedly received 959 million Won from chairman of machinery and concrete production and sales corporation D, alias Mr. Park, between April and December last year. Mr. Park requested Choi to lobby the provincial governor to `let the height restriction on apartment under construction in Changwon-Si, South Kyoungsang Province by an affiliate of corporation D to be uplifted.`

According to the prosecution, Mr. Choi draw out fifty million Won with the corporate card of that company between March last year and January this year.

Mr. Choi is also allegedly received thirty million Won from CEO of S construction company Mr. Yu on May 2000 by promising to `get governmental projects by lobbying to political and governmental figures,` and draw out thirty-four million Won from the corporate card of an affiliate company of S company between July and December 2000.

The prosecution said the requests of Mr. Park and Mr. Yu to Mr.Choi have not been realized.

The prosecution also secured a statement of Mr. Yu, saying, `Mr. Choi has taken up 0.4 billion Won in the pretext of fundraising for establishment of an electronic incorporation in March last year and later said he relayed the money to a high positioned person.` The prosecution is investigating the expenditure details of the money.

The prosecution is probing the slush fund account and the circumstance of Mr. Choi`s holding stocks of Tiger Pools International (TPI), which is a major stockholder of Sports Toto Inc. that issues sports lottery tickets `Sports TOTO.`

The prosecution also said that it is inquiring about the truth of the content of a written statement made by TPI CEO Song Jae-Bin who allegedly transferred money and stocks to Mr.Choi and Hong-Gul in return for the operating right of lottery tickets.

The prosecution is expected to summon former deputy Seoul mayor for political affairs Kim Hee-Wan soon, and probe whether he is involved with alleged irregularities of Mr. Choi and the circumstance of attending secret meetings in the face of the prosecution appearance of Mr. Choi.

Myoung-Gun Lee gun43@donga.com · Jin-Kyun Kil leon@donga.com