Rep. Choi “I Received Ten Billion Won”

As Rep. Choi Don-woong of the opposition Grand National Party acknowledged that he received ten billion won from SK last November, the central criminal investigation division (Ahn Dae-hee, a chief public prosecutor), which was investigating the SK slush fund scandal, at the supreme public prosecutors office is scrutinizing in detail what services the fund rendered.

Moon Hyo-nam, the investigation plan maker, said, “Rep. Choi acknowledged the suspicion that he received 10 billion won from SK.” And this is the same with what SK confessed.

It is said that the prosecution confirmed the fact that Rep. Choi first asked SK for the funds for the presidential election and received cash several times which was divided into vinyl shopping bags at his home, East ichon-dong, Yongsan-gu and etc.

But they say that during the investigation from the prosecution Rep. Choi claimed “I never seized the fund. It is hard to tell where the fund was used.”

Consequently, the prosecution will investigate the people who are involved in the private organization of the opposition Grand National Party and Rep. Choi, known as the source of fund, including financial committee to make clear the use of the 10 billion won, which Rep. Choi received by the way of summoning them. And the prosecutions also examine their accounts.

It is said that as the prosecution ensured the statement that Choi Do-sul, former presidential secretary of general affairs, despite receiving the assistance fund from businesses in Busan, treated election expenses on credit and that Choi received slush fund from SK after last presidential election to pay this debt back. The prosecution is investigating the circumstances of the case.

The prosecution is expected to announce the preliminary investigation result over the use of the fund on October 24 when the term of the confinement of the former secretary, Choi, expires.

It is said that the prosecution also confirmed the fact during Rep. Chyung Dai-chul of the United New Party for Participatory Citizens, received the illegal political fund, billion one, from SK, Rep. Lee Sang-soo of the United New Party for Participatory Citizens, as the chief in headquarters of general affairs at the election committee of the Millennium Democratic Party, is involved on last December

On the other hand, the prosecution determined that he would summon Park Kwang–tae, mayor of Gwangju, on October 22 and investigate the suspicion that he received several thousands won from Hyundai when he was the chief of industrial resources department in the National Assembly.

The prosecution will also summon Rep. Kim Duk-Ryong on October 24 or 29 about supporting election with the budget of the Agency for National Security Planning, and the prosecution will investigate whether the Grand National Party misappropriate the budget of the NIS, 25 billion and 700 million one, at the local election June 27, 1995.

Wi-Yong Jung Jin-Kyun Kil viyonz@donga.com leon@donga.com