Prosecutors to question high-profile politicians

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Prosecutors to question high-profile politicians

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Democrats yesterday issue a statement condemning the prosecution for launching what they called a politically motivated probe of former Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook. [YONHAP]

High-profile politicians including former Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook and Grand National Party lawmaker Gong Sung-jin will be summoned prosecutors as early as next week to face questioning after a series of graft allegations, sources at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office said yesterday.

“We want to wrap up the probes into politicians before Christmas,” said a prosecution official. “To this end, we will begin summoning them as early as this week.”

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office’s special investigation units will be in charge of the probes. Sources said one of the special units is currently arranging a session with Gong, who has been accused of managing a network of slush funds and receiving bribes from the owner of the State Wilshire Country Club in Gyeonggi. Another GNP lawmaker, Hyun Gyoung-byoung, was also accused of receiving bribes from the country club owner. An aide to Hyun was questioned last week in the case.

Another special investigation unit is also reviewing a plan to summon Han this week. She has been accused of receiving $50,000 from a local businessman in 2007. Sources have said Kwak Young-wook, former CEO of Korea Express, told the prosecutors that he had paid Han. The former prime minister has denied the charges, and the Democrats moved yesterday to defend the symbol of the Roh Moo-hyun administration’s integrity. Forty-two Democratic Party lawmakers issued a statement yesterday demanding that the prosecution and some media stop “a political maneuver to kill Han.” Han is the party’s prominent candidate for Seoul mayor next year.

The lawmakers also charged that the Lee Myung-bak administration was behind the political offensive against Han.



By Lee Chul-jae, Ser Myo-ja [myoja@joongang.co.kr]



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