Bribery case involving ex-P.M. spreads to opposition leader Chung

The main opposition Democratic Party`s troubles do not end with the indictment of a former prime minister on bribery charges, as its chairman is suspected of involvement in the case.

Prosecutors on Tuesday indicted former Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook for receiving a $50,000 bribe from former Korea Express CEO Kwak Young-wook in 2006 over a luncheon at her residence.

Kwak was arrested and indicted last month on bribery and embezzlement charges.

Prosecutors said Rep. Chung Sye-kyun, current DP leader and then-commerce minister, was present at the occasion. He has denied involvement in the alleged bribery.

Kwak, however, said during interrogation that he received word from a high-ranking official at the Commerce Ministry that he should apply for CEO at the Korea Coal Corporation, the post for which he confessed having made the bribe, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors have so far avoided direct accusations against Chung, saying they have not yet decided to call him in for questioning.

Chung, who earlier described the luncheon as a casual year-end gathering, refused to immediately respond to the unfavorable statements.



"We shall go through the written arraignments brought against Han and make further announcements later on," the DP leader said during a meeting of the party`s Supreme Council yesterday.

Other high-ranking DP lawmakers similarly remained silent regarding the matter. However, they earlier accused the prosecution and ruling party of staging a political plot against the minor party.

"The indictment was only based on the inconsistent statements of a 70-year-old man who was trying to win his bailout," said one of Han`s aides.

"It is practically impossible to `stick` two thick envelopes, as Kwak testified, into a woman`s suit jacket."

Han`s lawyers also pointed out that the prosecution had suggested almost no evidence aside from verbal testimony to support Han`s charges.

Investigators have nevertheless vowed to bring the related evidence to court.

While the prosecution and the DP prepare for the upcoming trial on Han`s case, ruling party lawmakers are also undergoing investigation on charges of taking illicit funds.

Prosecutors yesterday summoned Rep. Gong Sung-jin of the ruling Grand National Party, who allegedly took bribes from various businessmen.

He is to be indicted next week if evidence supports the charges, but will not be apprehended because the National Assembly is in mid-session, said prosecutorial officials.

(tellme@heraldm.com)



By Bae Hyun-jung