신재민 전 문화체육관광부 차관 등 현정부 인사들에게 금품과 향응을 제공했다고 주장한 이국철 SLS그룹 회장이 3일 오전 서울중앙지검에 출석하면서 기자들의 질문에 대답하고 있다. 이날 이 회장은 신 전 차관이 사용했다는 SLS그룹의 법인카드 전표 등 증빙자료를 제출할 것으로 알려졌다. 검찰은 지난 달 23일 이국철 회장을 소환해 조사했었다. 박현구 기자phko@heraldm.com 2011.10.3\r\nSLS Chairman Lee Kook-chul talks to reporters before entering the Seoul Central Prosecutors’ Office in southern Seoul Monday. Park Hyun-koo/The Korea Herald
신재민 전 문화체육관광부 차관 등 현정부 인사들에게 금품과 향응을 제공했다고 주장한 이국철 SLS그룹 회장이 3일 오전 서울중앙지검에 출석하면서 기자들의 질문에 대답하고 있다. 이날 이 회장은 신 전 차관이 사용했다는 SLS그룹의 법인카드 전표 등 증빙자료를 제출할 것으로 알려졌다. 검찰은 지난 달 23일 이국철 회장을 소환해 조사했었다. 박현구 기자phko@heraldm.com 2011.10.3\r\nSLS Chairman Lee Kook-chul talks to reporters before entering the Seoul Central Prosecutors’ Office in southern Seoul Monday. Park Hyun-koo/The Korea Herald

SLS Chairman Lee Kook-chul talks to reporters before entering the Seoul Central Prosecutors’ Office in southern Seoul Monday. (Park Hyun-koo/The Korea Herald)

SLS Chairman Lee Kook-chul on Monday was summoned to the Seoul Central Prosecutors’ Office to explain his allegations that he offered 1 billion won ($847,000) as bribe to former Vice Culture Minister Shin Jae-min.

Before heading into the office at 10 a.m., Lee showed reporters two large suitcases that he said contained credit card slips, car lease records, voucher receipts and others that would prove that President Lee Myung-bak’s associates had accepted his requests for favor from 2002.

He said he would present the documents to the prosecution as evidence.

“At the end of patience will come truth, and at the end of the truth will come big changes and innovation. I have been interrogated by prosecutors before. I will speak the truth only,” he said.

Lee alleges Shin used the money to seek favors from influential figures including Kwak Seung-jun, chairman of the Presidential Council for Future and Vision, and Lim Jae-hyun, presidential secretary for policy publicity. Shin denied the allegation.

Lee also brought in documents and photographs suggesting that SLS Japan offered dinner and entertainment worth 5 million won last year to former Vice Minister of Knowledge Economy Park Young-joon while he was working at the Prime Minister’s Office.

Park, Kwak and Lim filed a libel suit against Lee last month. Investigators will examine whether Lee’s allegations would constitute defamation.

On Sunday, Lee took a step further and targeted Justice Minister Kwon Jae-jin. At a news briefing Sunday, Lee said he had lobbied to Kwan in April in an attempt to save his business from tumbling. “Kwon tried to destroy my company couple of years ago when he was a high-ranking official at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office. It was unlawful. I tried to save my business once again,” he said.

The Ministry of Justice on Monday dismissed Lee’s allegations as groundless, and said that Kwon does not know Lee.

By Bae Ji-sook (baejisook@heraldm.com)


swchun@heraldcorp.com