The investigation into the high-profile graft scandal involving a late business tycoon and President Park Geun-hye’s close aides appears to be coming to an end, with the prosecution planning to indict two key political heavyweights without detention this week.
According to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, prosecutors will indict two political bigwigs — former Prime Minister Lee Wan-koo and South Gyeongsang Province Gov. Hong Joon-pyo — without detention on charges of violating the Political Fund Act. The result of the probe into the graft scandal will also follow.
The indictment comes nearly two months after investigators launched a probe into the allegations that eight senior officials from the Park administration accepted illicit political donations from Sung, the deceased chairman of Keangnam Enterprises.
Sung claimed in a media interview that he offered campaign money to eight politicians close to President Park before committing suicide in April. The police found a handwritten note in his pocket that listed the names of the politicians and the bribe amounts he allegedly handed over.
The former premier Lee, who stepped down from the post on April 27, is suspected of having received 30 million won ($27,000) from Sung in April 2013. Sung allegedly offered 100 million won to Gov. Hong in June 2011, when the four-term lawmaker was running for chief of the Grand National Party, the precursor to the ruling Saenuri Party.
The prosecution sent inquiry letters late last month to the remaining six politicians listed in Sung’s memo, requesting information on their relations with Sung, as well as their roles at the ruling party in 2012.
The six include ruling Saenuri Party lawmaker Rep. Hong Moon-jong, Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok, Busan Mayor Suh Byung-soo, incumbent Presidential Chief of Staff Lee Byung-kee and his two predecessors ― Huh Tae-yeol and Kim Ki-choon.
By Ock Hyun-ju (laeticia.ock@heraldcorp.com)
