Draft-dodge probe goes forward

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Draft-dodge probe goes forward

The Special Investigation Division at the Seoul District Prosecutors Office on Tuesday summoned former military hospital officer, Kim Dae-eop, who charged Grand National Party's presidential candidate Lee Hoi-chang's son for draft dodging.

Mr.Lee's eldest son, Jeong-yeon, was exempted from mandatory military services in 1991 for allegedly being underweight.

Kim Dae-eop, who cooperated with the prosecutors regarding the same allegations earlier this year, raised new questions about the issue last week and triggered a probe by prosecutors.

The prosecutors said they demanded Kim Dae-eop to submit the tape recordings of a former officer at Armed Forces Capital Hospital, who allegedly admited to having been involved in exempting Mr. Lee's son. The officer was arrested in 1999 for receiving bribes in return for his services. Mr. Kim told prosecutors that the tape recorded the former officer saying that in 1991 he introduced the military hospital associate to a man who acted as a middle man between draft dodgers and military hospital associates.

Kim Dae-eop's lawyer said, "The tape recordings do exist, but I cannot tell you where they are."

The prosecutors will summon the Chuncheon hospital associate, the broker and former officer.

The GNP called the allegations raised by Mr. Kim, "a political maneuver to conceal corruption in the government."

Lee Hoi-chang said Tuesday, "I have nothing to be ashamed of and that is the same for my family."

Suh Chung-won, chairman of the GNP, said that MDP and the current administration have fabricated the draft-dodging allegations to block the GNP's efforts to curb corruption.

The Grand National Party accused lawmaker Chon Yong-taek of guiding Mr. Kim from behind the scenes. The opposition is striving to drive Mr. Kim's allegations as being groundless. It argued that Mr. Kim participated in the prosecutors' investigations on draft dodgers in 1998 in exchange for receiving immunity for his involvement.

They accused Kim Jung-kil, incumbent minister of justice, for granting his immunity, citing a weekly newspaper report.

by Lee Sang-eon, Ko Jung-ae

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