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-kaps 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 Ministers Office having a party at a room salon in Gangnam-gu, Seoul around September 2001.