Ex-prime minister may be pushed to testify: prosecutors
Published: 11 Dec. 2009, 21:02
After former Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook declined a prosecutors’ call to appear for questioning, a top prosecution official hinted yesterday at the possibility of compelling her to submit to interrogation.
“If she really didn’t receive a penny, then she must show up for the questioning to prove that,” said a top prosecution official.
The Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office had told Han to appear before investigators by 11 a.m. yesterday as a suspect in a graft probe. She is accused of receiving $50,000 from Kwak Young-wook, former CEO of Korea Express, in his bid to become the president of Korea South-East Power Co., an affiliate of the state-run Korea Electric Power Corporation.
Han denied the charges and did not submit to the investigation.
“She used to be a national leader, and I believe she will make the right decision,” the prosecution official said. “If she continues to refuse to cooperate, we will have to take legal steps.”
Instead of going to the prosecution, Han held a press conference yesterday at the office of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation and reiterated that she will not cooperate with the prosecutors’ probe.
“To get at the truth, the process should itself be truthful and legitimate,” Han said. “There cannot be a halfway truth. Therefore, I will not concede to something that is not true. I will bet my life on fighting against illegal actions of investigative authorities and the politics of conspiracy.”
A group of liberal politicians led by another Roh administration prime minister, Lee Hae-chan, filed a lawsuit against prosecutors on charges of leaking accusations involving Han to the media during an ongoing probe.
Han also filed for damages against the state and the Chosun Ilbo, one of the nation’s largest newspapers, which broke news about the graft allegation.
Prosecution sources said yesterday that they have failed to confirm Kwak’s testimony that he had handed over the money at the prime minister’s residence when Han was in office in 2007.
The prime minister’s residence was searched on Wednesday, but no logs were found on private visits. Surveillance cameras located along the wall were unable to identify visitors, sources said.
Meanwhile, a Grand National lawmaker appeared at the prosecution to be questioned about a separate graft allegation.
GNP Representative Hyun Gyoung-byoung entered the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office around 9 a.m. yesterday. Hyun is accused of receiving 100 million won ($90,000) from the owner of the State Wilshire Country Club in Gyeonggi.
According to prosecution sources, Hyun had demanded the money in August of last year.
In a telephone interview with the JoongAng Ilbo, Hyun said he borrowed the sum from the businessman.
“I did not know I had to use the 100 million won [from the government for legislative activities] and used the sum to pay my campaign debts,” said Hyun. “After the National Election Commission pointed that out, I borrowed the money from him urgently.”
By Lee Chul-jae, Ser Myo-ja [[email protected]]
“If she really didn’t receive a penny, then she must show up for the questioning to prove that,” said a top prosecution official.
The Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office had told Han to appear before investigators by 11 a.m. yesterday as a suspect in a graft probe. She is accused of receiving $50,000 from Kwak Young-wook, former CEO of Korea Express, in his bid to become the president of Korea South-East Power Co., an affiliate of the state-run Korea Electric Power Corporation.
Han denied the charges and did not submit to the investigation.
“She used to be a national leader, and I believe she will make the right decision,” the prosecution official said. “If she continues to refuse to cooperate, we will have to take legal steps.”
Instead of going to the prosecution, Han held a press conference yesterday at the office of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation and reiterated that she will not cooperate with the prosecutors’ probe.
“To get at the truth, the process should itself be truthful and legitimate,” Han said. “There cannot be a halfway truth. Therefore, I will not concede to something that is not true. I will bet my life on fighting against illegal actions of investigative authorities and the politics of conspiracy.”
A group of liberal politicians led by another Roh administration prime minister, Lee Hae-chan, filed a lawsuit against prosecutors on charges of leaking accusations involving Han to the media during an ongoing probe.
Han also filed for damages against the state and the Chosun Ilbo, one of the nation’s largest newspapers, which broke news about the graft allegation.
Prosecution sources said yesterday that they have failed to confirm Kwak’s testimony that he had handed over the money at the prime minister’s residence when Han was in office in 2007.
The prime minister’s residence was searched on Wednesday, but no logs were found on private visits. Surveillance cameras located along the wall were unable to identify visitors, sources said.
Meanwhile, a Grand National lawmaker appeared at the prosecution to be questioned about a separate graft allegation.
GNP Representative Hyun Gyoung-byoung entered the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office around 9 a.m. yesterday. Hyun is accused of receiving 100 million won ($90,000) from the owner of the State Wilshire Country Club in Gyeonggi.
According to prosecution sources, Hyun had demanded the money in August of last year.
In a telephone interview with the JoongAng Ilbo, Hyun said he borrowed the sum from the businessman.
“I did not know I had to use the 100 million won [from the government for legislative activities] and used the sum to pay my campaign debts,” said Hyun. “After the National Election Commission pointed that out, I borrowed the money from him urgently.”
By Lee Chul-jae, Ser Myo-ja [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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