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Ex-Officials Summoned in Bribe Case

Posted January. 11, 2007 07:17,   

한국어

Investigating suspicions against Samju Industrial Co. (formerly Grace Department Stores) President Kim Heung-ju (58, in custody) for lobbying, Criminal Department IV of the Seoul Western District Public Prosecutors’ Office (headed by Choi Seok-du) released Lee Geun-yeong, 70, former chairman of the Korea Financial Supervisory Service and Commission, after summoning and investigating him as a reference on January 10.

Lee is suspected of helping Kim, who was interested in acquiring Gold Mutual Savings Bank, by introducing him to FSS Deputy Governor Kim Jung-hoe (58, in custody, then FSS nonbanking business director).

Lee, who said, “I have nothing to say,” right before going to the Prosecutors’ Office, is reported to have denied any suspicions of his involvement.

Prosecutors also secured a witness statement that former chief secretary of the Presidential office Han Kwang-ok asked Kim to pay the deposit and rent for former Democratic Party advisor Kwon Noh-kap’s personal office around 1999.

Prosecutors are considering summoning and investigating Han as a reference to charge him with accepting bribes as early as January 11.

Meanwhile, prosecutors investigated former National Tax Service head Lee Ju-seong, 58, as a reference on January 9. They announced it was confirmed that Lee was caught by secret inspectors from the Prime Minister’s Office having a party at a room salon in Gangnam-gu, Seoul around September 2001.



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