ID :
204866
Fri, 09/02/2011 - 09:53
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/204866
The shortlink copeid
Prosecutors issue summons for Seoul education chief
(ATTN: UPDATES throughout with summons for Seoul superintendent)
SEOUL, Sept. 2 (Yonhap) -- Prosecutors issued a summons for the Seoul education chief on Friday to probe him over allegations that he gave money to a rival candidate to get him to withdraw from last year's election.
Kwak No-hyun, the elected superintendent of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, is suspected of giving 200 million won (US$188,377) to Park Myoung-gee, a college professor and rival candidate from the same liberal bloc, in return for his withdrawal from the race.
"Today, we told the superintendent to appear before prosecutors early Monday morning," a prosecution official said.
The move came hours after prosecutors searched Kwak's home in western Seoul in efforts to secure evidence before bringing him in for questioning.
"The search and confiscation launched at 8:00 a.m. on the education superintendent's home in western Seoul," another prosecution official said. Kwak was at home when the search started, but later left for work, he said.
Prosecutors are trying to find a link between money given to Park and his withdrawal from the race, which mainly contributed to Kwak's election victory.
On Sunday, Kwak admitted to giving Park the money, but he insisted that it was not given in return for Park's withdrawal and rather a gesture of "goodwill."
The prosecution questioned Kwak's family members and close aides and arrested Park earlier this week.
Meanwhile, one of Kwak's aides, who was in charge of accounting for the superintendent's camp last year, revealed a string of facts backing suspicions that the money was given in return for the withdrawal. But, he added, Kwak himself is not responsible for making the financial transaction.
"It is a fact that (Kwak's camp) promised to help (Park)," the man, surnamed Lee, said in an telephone interview with Yonhap News Agency, referring to his negotiation with one of Park's aides in May last year.
But Kwak himself was not aware at first of the promised payoff to Park, he said. "Kwak seemed to be very shocked after later learning of the existence of the agreement."
Park was believed to be suffering heavy debts due to his election campaign.
Lee added he will later tell the whole truth before prosecutors.
pbr@yna.co.kr
SEOUL, Sept. 2 (Yonhap) -- Prosecutors issued a summons for the Seoul education chief on Friday to probe him over allegations that he gave money to a rival candidate to get him to withdraw from last year's election.
Kwak No-hyun, the elected superintendent of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, is suspected of giving 200 million won (US$188,377) to Park Myoung-gee, a college professor and rival candidate from the same liberal bloc, in return for his withdrawal from the race.
"Today, we told the superintendent to appear before prosecutors early Monday morning," a prosecution official said.
The move came hours after prosecutors searched Kwak's home in western Seoul in efforts to secure evidence before bringing him in for questioning.
"The search and confiscation launched at 8:00 a.m. on the education superintendent's home in western Seoul," another prosecution official said. Kwak was at home when the search started, but later left for work, he said.
Prosecutors are trying to find a link between money given to Park and his withdrawal from the race, which mainly contributed to Kwak's election victory.
On Sunday, Kwak admitted to giving Park the money, but he insisted that it was not given in return for Park's withdrawal and rather a gesture of "goodwill."
The prosecution questioned Kwak's family members and close aides and arrested Park earlier this week.
Meanwhile, one of Kwak's aides, who was in charge of accounting for the superintendent's camp last year, revealed a string of facts backing suspicions that the money was given in return for the withdrawal. But, he added, Kwak himself is not responsible for making the financial transaction.
"It is a fact that (Kwak's camp) promised to help (Park)," the man, surnamed Lee, said in an telephone interview with Yonhap News Agency, referring to his negotiation with one of Park's aides in May last year.
But Kwak himself was not aware at first of the promised payoff to Park, he said. "Kwak seemed to be very shocked after later learning of the existence of the agreement."
Park was believed to be suffering heavy debts due to his election campaign.
Lee added he will later tell the whole truth before prosecutors.
pbr@yna.co.kr
