No. 2 at Hanwha is questioned

Prosecutors investigating a string of bribery cases involving Korea’s conglomerates summoned a senior official of Hanwha Group, which is currently being investigated on charges of raising a large number of slush funds, prosecutors said yesterday.

This is the first time that a high-ranking company official has been questioned in the scandal investigation.

Prosecutors at the Seoul Western District Prosecutors’ Office summoned Hanwha Group’s Vice President Choi Sang-soon on Tuesday afternoon.

Prosecution sources said Choi was questioned about whether he told his subordinates to create multibillion won slush funds with company money by using brokerage accounts held under borrowed names.

Prosecutors have recently been probing Hanwha Group, the nation’s 10th largest conglomerate.

By Kim Mi-ju [mijukim@joongang.co.kr]