Travel Bans Sought for 5 Suspects Over Corruption Cases


By Na Jeong-ju
Staff Reporter
Independent Counsel Kim Jin-heung said on Monday he requested the government to impose travel bans on four to five figures at the center of corruption allegations surrounding aides to President Roh Moo-hyun.

``We asked the Justice Ministry to ban four to five figures, including Lee Won-ho, a night club owner,’’ Kim told reporters after holding a ceremony to mark the opening of the special counsel office in Panpo-dong, southern Seoul.

The travel bans were seen as the counsel team’s first step toward looking into allegations involving Yang Kil-seung, Lee Kwang-jae and Choi Do-sul, who each played crucial roles in helping Roh win the presidential race in December 2002.

Starting Tuesday, Kim will command the investigation until March 5, with the optional right to extend the probe for one month depending on how the investigation unfolds.

Until the end of next week, the team will screen the outcome of an initial investigation by the prosecution. Then investigators will be put in place for an extensive probe, Kim said.

He promised a fair and thorough investigation, saying, ``I would leave no stones unturned to bring every allegation to light.’’

At the center of attention is whether Roh was in any way involved in the collection of illegal campaign funds from businesses during the presidential election.

The probe by the independent counsel comes after the state prosecution announced the results of its investigation into the campaign fund scandal last month. According to the prosecution, Roh appears to have been aware of the illegal fundraising by his aides.

The independent counsel, however, refused to comment on whether he would take Roh into his account when he leads the probe.

``It is inappropriate (to make a comment) at this time,’’ Kim said. ``I will be able to make a judgment on that issue after reviewing related data.’’

Kim said he has appointed three assistant counsels to facilitate the investigation into the three separate allegations.

Yang Seung-cheon, a former prosecutor, will deal with allegations involving former Chong Wa Dae secretary Choi Do-sul, who allegedly collected up to 90 billion won from a number of businesses in 2002 for Roh’s campaign. Choi was indicted last month for taking 1.4 billion won from SK Group and appropriating part of the money. He is also suspected of taking money from a number of businesses based in Pusan, Roh’s political stronghold.

Lee Woo-seung, a lawyer, was appointed to handle cases involving former Chong Wa Dae official Lee Kwang-jae, who allegedly took 9.5 billion won from Sun & Moon Group, a hotel and resort business chain. Lee is also facing trial for taking bribes.

Lee Joon-beom, a former judge, will look into allegations involving Yang Kil-seung, who allegedly took bribes from Lee Won-ho, the owner of a night club in Chongju, North Chungchong Province. Yang is suspected of helping Lee get an illegal tax deduction in return for the bribes.

Roh was forced to appoint Independent Counsel Kim last month after the opposition-controlling National Assembly passed an independent counsel bill, which was once vetoed by the president. The opposition Grand National Party alleged that Roh was behind an illegal tax deduction for Sun & Moon.