ID :
205580
Tue, 09/06/2011 - 15:38
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Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/205580
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Prosecutors to request arrest warrant for Seoul education chief
SEOUL, Sept. 6 (Yonhap) -- Prosecutors said Tuesday they plan to request an arrest warrant for Seoul's education chief, alleging he paid off a rival candidate in last year's election for school superintendent.
The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, who summoned Kwak No-hyun for a second round of questioning earlier in the day, said it plans to file for the warrant on Wednesday on charges that the education chief violated the country's election law and tried to destroy evidence.
If the request is made, the court could review it as soon as Friday to decide whether there is sufficient evidence to detain Kwak.
Kwak, who won the superintendent's race for the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education on June 2, 2010, admitted to giving 200 million won (US$186,567) as a gift to his chief rival Park Myoung-gee, a college professor from the same liberal bloc.
Prosecutors suspect the money delivered to Park early this year was given in exchange for Park's withdrawal from the race, which played a key role in Kwak's election victory. During the race only one liberal candidate ran for the high-profile post compared to several candidates that ran from the conservative side.
Prosecutors alleged that Kwak had promised a total of 700 million won in the secret deal with Park, although the superintendent has repeatedly denied that the money he gave was related to the election in any way.
Kwak, in addition, said that he was not aware of the deal brokered by his campaign staff until October.
Related to the ongoing investigation, sources said that they have collected evidence and testimony that point to Kwak being aware of the secret deal in advance. They also claimed that efforts to erase a computer hard drive confiscated from the superintendent showed a move to destroy key evidence.
Such actions, they said, required the arrest of the school official so he will be barred from trying to tamper with evidence in the future.
Kwak, who was summoned for the second time around 2 p.m., looked fatigued from Monday's interrogation as he entered the prosecutors' office in southern Seoul. He was surrounded by both opponents calling for his resignation and supporters proclaiming his innocence. He said nothing to reporters seeking comments.
Prosecutors said they plan to send the superintendent home by midnight.
No details have been released on what questions were being asked, but investigators were probably focused on how Kwak 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 jockeyed to become the sole candidate representing the liberal bloc.
Authorities have hinted that part of the money may have come from the special accounts operated by the education office and other public funds. Using such money for private purposes would be a serious offense.
Legal sources, meanwhile, said that if a trial is held, Kwak could face a maximum seven-year prison term or be fined up to 30 million won, punishments that would be severe enough to strip the official of his position.
The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, who summoned Kwak No-hyun for a second round of questioning earlier in the day, said it plans to file for the warrant on Wednesday on charges that the education chief violated the country's election law and tried to destroy evidence.
If the request is made, the court could review it as soon as Friday to decide whether there is sufficient evidence to detain Kwak.
Kwak, who won the superintendent's race for the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education on June 2, 2010, admitted to giving 200 million won (US$186,567) as a gift to his chief rival Park Myoung-gee, a college professor from the same liberal bloc.
Prosecutors suspect the money delivered to Park early this year was given in exchange for Park's withdrawal from the race, which played a key role in Kwak's election victory. During the race only one liberal candidate ran for the high-profile post compared to several candidates that ran from the conservative side.
Prosecutors alleged that Kwak had promised a total of 700 million won in the secret deal with Park, although the superintendent has repeatedly denied that the money he gave was related to the election in any way.
Kwak, in addition, said that he was not aware of the deal brokered by his campaign staff until October.
Related to the ongoing investigation, sources said that they have collected evidence and testimony that point to Kwak being aware of the secret deal in advance. They also claimed that efforts to erase a computer hard drive confiscated from the superintendent showed a move to destroy key evidence.
Such actions, they said, required the arrest of the school official so he will be barred from trying to tamper with evidence in the future.
Kwak, who was summoned for the second time around 2 p.m., looked fatigued from Monday's interrogation as he entered the prosecutors' office in southern Seoul. He was surrounded by both opponents calling for his resignation and supporters proclaiming his innocence. He said nothing to reporters seeking comments.
Prosecutors said they plan to send the superintendent home by midnight.
No details have been released on what questions were being asked, but investigators were probably focused on how Kwak 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 jockeyed to become the sole candidate representing the liberal bloc.
Authorities have hinted that part of the money may have come from the special accounts operated by the education office and other public funds. Using such money for private purposes would be a serious offense.
Legal sources, meanwhile, said that if a trial is held, Kwak could face a maximum seven-year prison term or be fined up to 30 million won, punishments that would be severe enough to strip the official of his position.
