President Lee's confidant summoned on suspicion of influencing tax probe

SEOUL, May 19 (Yonhap) -- Prosecutors on Tuesday summoned a confidant of
President Lee Myung-bak over allegations that he tried to influence a tax probe
on a businessman implicated in a massive graft scandal traced to Lee's
predecessor.
Chun Shin-il, head of Sejoongnamo Tour Co., is suspected of pressing tax
authorities to suspend an audit on Park Yeon-cha, the indicted head of shoemaker
Taekwang Industry, in return for monetary benefits.
Park was indicted late last year on charges of tax evasion and bribery. He is
believed to have bribed a number of former government officials and political
heavyweights for various favors.
Former President Roh Moo-hyun and his family are also under investigation on
suspicion of having received money from Park.
According to the prosecution, Chun is believed to have arranged several meetings
with Lee Jong-chan, a former aide to President Lee, and senior tax officials to
deter the tax investigation into Park's firm. Lee Jong-chan was questioned on
Sunday.
Chun and the president are known to be close personal friends with a relationship
that goes back nearly 50 years, having graduated from the same college. Chun is
said to have played a key role in Lee's presidential campaign in 2007.
Prosecutors raided Chun's home and office in early May and confiscated computer
hard discs and accounting books.
In a related move, investigators said they received a response from Han
Sang-ryul, former chief of the National Tax Service, which was responsible for
the tax probe into Park's company, on his role in the case.
Han, currently staying in the United States, denied having received any bribe
money but acknowledged he did receive phone calls from Chun, according to the
investigators.
brk@yna.co.kr
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