The Korea Herald

피터빈트

Kang Yong-seok accuses Ahn Cheol-soo over illegal accumulation of wealth

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Published : Feb. 13, 2012 - 17:09

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Independent lawmaker Kang Yong-seok on Monday filed a complaint to the prosecution against software entrepreneur-turned-professor Ahn Cheol-soo, claiming that he embezzled company funds and evaded taxes. 

(Yonhap News) (Yonhap News)


This is the third time the serial-complainant has accused Ahn, who is frequently spoken of as a potential candidate for the presidential election in December.

Kang filed the complaint with the Seoul Central Prosecutors’ Office against Ahn that he acquired a total of 1.46 million bonds with warrant of AhnLab, the computer software company that he founded, at a price of 1,710 ($1.5) per share on Oct. 12, 2000 but that they were traded for 30,000-50,000 won per share over the counter.

“Ahn bought the shares at one-25th of the normal price. The company was listed in October 2011 and Ahn has managed to bag up to 70 billion won,” Kang claimed. He said the 1.8 million shares of Ahn Lab that Ahn has recently donated to his charity foundation include the irregular property.

Kang, a former civic activist serving as a watchdog against illegal wealth transfers by business tycoons, alleged that Ahn’s purchase was a classic case of BW fraud.

BW entitles the purchaser to a certain number of shares of the borrowing company for a certain period at a price fixed in advance abusing bonds with warrant. Businessmen have taken advantage of the system by buying the BW of an unlisted company at a low price and waiting until the company is listed and reaping the profits.

“What Ahn did was a felony. Samsung chairman Lee Kun-hee was handed a three-year jail term suspended for five years and an additional 110 billion won fine for plotting the same plan for Samsung SDS stock in 1999,” Kang said. “At that time, Lee was charged for buying the company BW for half the expected price. Ahn’s felony is even graver,” he claimed.

Kang said he will also file complaints against 125 staff workers of Ahn Lab, who received a total of 80,000 shares from Ahn on Oct. 12, 2000.

“No one paid gift taxes. I am gathering the names of the receivers. When the list is complete, they will be added to the complaint,” he said.

Kang has already filed complaints against Ahn twice for allegedly using a false address and inappropriate real estate speculations.

Kang, who once was a prominent lawmaker of the ruling party, fell out of favor when he made remarks about TV newsreaders, saying they have to provide sexual favors to influential people.

He was ousted by the party but has remained in the headlines for making complaints. He appeared on a talk show last month and joked he has a motto of “filing a suit or complaint every day.”

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

 

<한글기사>

저격수 강용석, 안철수 '세금탈루' 로 고발


강용석(무소속) 의원이 13일 안철수 서울대  융합과학기술대학원장을 검찰에 고발했다.

강 의원은 안철수연구소가 1999년 발행한 신주인수권부사채(BW)를 안 원장이 헐 값에 인수해 거액의 이득을 취하면서 세금을 탈루했다는 혐의 내용을 담은 고발장을 이날 서울중앙지검에 제출했다.

강 의원은 "2000년 10월 안 원장은 안철수연구소 BW 186만주를 주당 1천710원에 주식으로 전환했는데 당시 이 주식의 장외 거래가는 3만~5만원이었다"며 "결국 안 원장은 25분의 1 가격에 주식을 취득한 셈인데, 이는 특정경제범죄가중처벌법  위반 과 조세범처벌법 위반에 해당한다"고 주장했다.

또 "실제 주식을 인수한 날로부터 1년 후인 2001년 10월 상장된 안철수연구소 주식은 상장당일 4만6천원을 찍고 상한가를 거듭해 8만8천원까지 올랐다"며 "안  원 장은 총 400억~700억원의 이득을 본 것으로 보인다"고 밝혔다.

강 의원은 일단 피고발인은 안 원장 한 사람뿐이지만, 안 원장이 주식을 인수하 며 주식 총 8만주를 증여한 직원 125명의 명단이 파악되는 대로 이들에 대해서도 증 여세 포탈 혐의로 추가 고발할 계획이라고 말했다.

이어 "이번 사건은 `삼성SDS BW 저가인수 사건'과 판박이"라며 "BW를 통한 비상 장주식 저가인수는 삼성특검이 이건희 회장을 기소해 징역 3년에 집행유예 5년,  추 징금 1천100억원이 부과된 것을 통해 알 수 있듯이 명백한 범죄행위"라고 강조했다.

강 의원은 또 "안 원장인 이미 BW 발행과정에서 드러난 문제로 2002년 검찰 조 사를 받기도 했다"며 그 과정도 곧 밝힐 예정이라고 말했다. (연합뉴스)