Prosecutors request arrest warrant for president's friend

SEOUL, May 31 (Yonhap) -- Prosecutors said Sunday they have requested an arrest
warrant for one of President Lee Myung-bak's close confidants on suspicions of
receiving bribe money from a corrupt businessman and evading taxes.
Chun Shin-il, head of Sejoongnamo Tour Co., has been summoned and questioned over
the past weeks for allegedly pressing tax authorities to suspend an audit into
Park Yeon-cha, the indicted head of shoemaker Taekwang Industry, last year in
return for monetary benefits worth about 700 million won (US$560,000),
prosecutors said.
Chun is also suspected of evading about 10 billion won in taxes in the process of
handing over shares in his company to his three children in April 2006 with the
help of Park, they said, adding the court is expected to rule on whether to issue
the arrest warrant for Chun on Tuesday.
The probe into Chun has been suspended over the past week, following the death of
former President Roh Moo-hyun, who committed suicide amid prosecutors'
investigation into an allegation that he and his family received at least $6
million in bribes before his retirement in February 2008.
Chun and the president are known to be close personal friends and graduated from
the same college. Chun is said to have played a key role in Lee's presidential
campaign in 2007.
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