ID :
52550
Fri, 03/27/2009 - 14:11
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/52550
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Senior ruling party lawmaker summoned in corruption probe
SEOUL, March 27 (Yonhap) -- Rep. Park Jin, a senior lawmaker of the ruling Grand
National Party, was summoned by prosecutors Friday for questioning over
allegations that he received bribes from the scandal-ridden chairman of shoemaker
Taekwang Industry, prosecution officials said.
The three-term lawmaker appeared at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in southern
Seoul early Friday morning and underwent hours of questioning about whether he
was paid any illicit political funds by Taekwang Chairman Park Yeon-cha, who was
arrested last December on charges of tax evasion and bribery, said the officials.
Rep. Park, chairman of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs, Trade and
Unification Committee, is well known for his advocacy of the South Korea-U.S.
free trade agreement and pro-American policies, as well as for his close
political relationship with President Lee Myung-bak.
According to a report by KBS TV on Thursday, Rep. Park is suspected of receiving
several tens of thousands of dollars from Chairman Park via his acquaintance who
runs a Korean restaurant in New York. The money was allegedly delivered during
the lawmaker's recent trip to New York, the report said.
The lawmaker's office immediately denied the television news report, arguing that
Rep. Park has not maintained any personal relationship with Chairman Park.
On Thursday night, Rep. Lee Kwang-jae of the main opposition Democratic Party
(DP) was placed under arrest on suspicion of pocketing a total of 180 million won
(about US$140,000) from Chairman Park between 2004 and 2008, including $20,000
delivered by the unidentified New York restaurant owner in May 2004.
Rep. Suh Gap-won, a deputy floor leader of the DP who is also suspected of
receiving money from Chairman Park through the New York restaurant owner, was
also asked to appear at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office on Friday but refused to
comply with the summons, citing urgent parliamentary affairs, said the officials.
Prosecution sources say a number of other ruling and opposition lawmakers are
also under investigation on bribery charges related to Chairman Park, who has
been known as a financial supporter of former President Roh Moo-hyun and other
influential politicians.
ycm@yna.co.kr
(END)
National Party, was summoned by prosecutors Friday for questioning over
allegations that he received bribes from the scandal-ridden chairman of shoemaker
Taekwang Industry, prosecution officials said.
The three-term lawmaker appeared at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in southern
Seoul early Friday morning and underwent hours of questioning about whether he
was paid any illicit political funds by Taekwang Chairman Park Yeon-cha, who was
arrested last December on charges of tax evasion and bribery, said the officials.
Rep. Park, chairman of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs, Trade and
Unification Committee, is well known for his advocacy of the South Korea-U.S.
free trade agreement and pro-American policies, as well as for his close
political relationship with President Lee Myung-bak.
According to a report by KBS TV on Thursday, Rep. Park is suspected of receiving
several tens of thousands of dollars from Chairman Park via his acquaintance who
runs a Korean restaurant in New York. The money was allegedly delivered during
the lawmaker's recent trip to New York, the report said.
The lawmaker's office immediately denied the television news report, arguing that
Rep. Park has not maintained any personal relationship with Chairman Park.
On Thursday night, Rep. Lee Kwang-jae of the main opposition Democratic Party
(DP) was placed under arrest on suspicion of pocketing a total of 180 million won
(about US$140,000) from Chairman Park between 2004 and 2008, including $20,000
delivered by the unidentified New York restaurant owner in May 2004.
Rep. Suh Gap-won, a deputy floor leader of the DP who is also suspected of
receiving money from Chairman Park through the New York restaurant owner, was
also asked to appear at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office on Friday but refused to
comply with the summons, citing urgent parliamentary affairs, said the officials.
Prosecution sources say a number of other ruling and opposition lawmakers are
also under investigation on bribery charges related to Chairman Park, who has
been known as a financial supporter of former President Roh Moo-hyun and other
influential politicians.
ycm@yna.co.kr
(END)
