ID :
205456
Tue, 09/06/2011 - 10:17
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/205456
The shortlink copeid
(LEAD) Seoul education chief summoned again over bribery charges
(ATTN: UPDATES with superintendent appearance throughout)
SEOUL, Sept. 6 (Yonhap) -- The Seoul education chief was called back in for prosecutors' questioning on Tuesday on suspicions that he paid off a rival candidate in last year's election to secure the high-profile position.
Kwak No-hyun, the elected superintendent of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, is suspected of giving 200 million won (US$186,567) to Park Myoung-gee, a college professor and rival candidate from the same liberal bloc, during the election for the education superintendent post.
Prosecutors suspect the money delivered to Park early this year was given in return for Park's withdrawal from the election, which primarily contributed to Kwak's election victory. Kwak had allegedly promised a total of 700 million won in a secret deal with Park, which prosecutors suspect led Park to drop out of the race.
Just half a day after he returned home from 16 hours of intensive interrogation, Kwak reappeared before prosecutors at around 2:00 p.m. for further prosecution questioning.
Kwak, looking fatigued from Monday's interrogation, entered the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in southern Seoul, with surrounding opponents and supporters calling out for Kwak's resignation and his innocence, respectively. He said nothing to reporters seeking comments.
Prosecutors plan to send the superintendent home by midnight and request the court on Wednesday to issue an arrest warrant for him.
The questioning will likely focus on how he financed his 200 million won gift to Park and exactly when he learned of the existence of the secret financial transaction. The deal was allegedly made between close aides of Kwak and Park as the two candidates made efforts to become a sole candidate representing the liberal bloc.
The prosecution is reportedly moving to bring charges of paying off an election rival against Kwak. The charges could lead to a maximum seven-year prison term or a fine of up to 30 million won, punishments that would be heavy enough to strip Kwak of his position.
Leaving the prosecution office early Tuesday morning, Kwak's lawyer, who accompanied him through the prosecution's overnight questioning, told reporters that the superintendent "sincerely explained what he knew about the negotiations to pick a sole candidate and the unconditional withdrawal (of the rival candidate)."
During the first interrogation session, Kwak denied the bribery charges and reiterated his previous stance that the money was only given as a gesture of "goodwill" for Park, who was suffering hefty debts due to his election campaign, according to prosecutors. The education chief insisted that there was no link between the money and Park's withdrawal.
SEOUL, Sept. 6 (Yonhap) -- The Seoul education chief was called back in for prosecutors' questioning on Tuesday on suspicions that he paid off a rival candidate in last year's election to secure the high-profile position.
Kwak No-hyun, the elected superintendent of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, is suspected of giving 200 million won (US$186,567) to Park Myoung-gee, a college professor and rival candidate from the same liberal bloc, during the election for the education superintendent post.
Prosecutors suspect the money delivered to Park early this year was given in return for Park's withdrawal from the election, which primarily contributed to Kwak's election victory. Kwak had allegedly promised a total of 700 million won in a secret deal with Park, which prosecutors suspect led Park to drop out of the race.
Just half a day after he returned home from 16 hours of intensive interrogation, Kwak reappeared before prosecutors at around 2:00 p.m. for further prosecution questioning.
Kwak, looking fatigued from Monday's interrogation, entered the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in southern Seoul, with surrounding opponents and supporters calling out for Kwak's resignation and his innocence, respectively. He said nothing to reporters seeking comments.
Prosecutors plan to send the superintendent home by midnight and request the court on Wednesday to issue an arrest warrant for him.
The questioning will likely focus on how he financed his 200 million won gift to Park and exactly when he learned of the existence of the secret financial transaction. The deal was allegedly made between close aides of Kwak and Park as the two candidates made efforts to become a sole candidate representing the liberal bloc.
The prosecution is reportedly moving to bring charges of paying off an election rival against Kwak. The charges could lead to a maximum seven-year prison term or a fine of up to 30 million won, punishments that would be heavy enough to strip Kwak of his position.
Leaving the prosecution office early Tuesday morning, Kwak's lawyer, who accompanied him through the prosecution's overnight questioning, told reporters that the superintendent "sincerely explained what he knew about the negotiations to pick a sole candidate and the unconditional withdrawal (of the rival candidate)."
During the first interrogation session, Kwak denied the bribery charges and reiterated his previous stance that the money was only given as a gesture of "goodwill" for Park, who was suffering hefty debts due to his election campaign, according to prosecutors. The education chief insisted that there was no link between the money and Park's withdrawal.
