Prosecutors raid tax office in widening corruption probe

Prosecutors raid tax office in widening corruption probe
SEOUL, May 6 (Yonhap) -- State prosecutors on Wednesday raided the offices of
Seoul's tax agency on suspicion that officials there may have taken bribes from a
businessman who is at the center of a widening corruption scandal involving
former President Roh Moo-hyun.

Some 20 investigators at the Supreme Prosecutors Office arrived at the Seoul
Regional Tax Office in downtown Seoul at around 11 a.m. and confiscated computers
and documents relating to taxes paid by shoe manufacturer Taekwang Industry Co.
since July of last year.
Park Yeon-cha, head of the company, is under arrest on charges of offering
billions of won in bribes to political heavyweights, including the former
president, incumbent lawmakers, police and judiciary officials.
He is also under suspicion of having attempted to halt previous tax probes
against the company by allegedly contacting Chun Shin-il, the head of Sejoongnamo
Tour Co., who attended university with President Lee Myung-bak.
The raid into the tax watchdog comes as prosecutors gear up to dig deeper into
the unfolding scandal and possibly unearth allegations against other former and
incumbent high profile officials. Their investigation into Roh and his family's
alleged past dealings with Park were tentatively wrapped up last week.
Roh has acknowledged that his wife, Kwon Yang-sook, received US$1 million from
Park, but insisted that he did not become aware of the transaction until after he
left office early last year. The former president is also under suspicion for his
part in a $5 million investment by Park in a company run by the son-in-law of
Roh's brother.
odissy@yna.co.kr
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