Lee Myung-bak's elder brother grilled about corruption for second time
By Kim Se-jeong
The prosecution is stepping up its pressure on former President Lee Myung-bak, planning to summon him for questioning over diverse corruption charges.
It grilled Lee Sang-deuk, the elder brother of Lee, for a second time Wednesday.
The questioning came a week before the scheduled summoning of the former President who faces multiple allegations.
Lee Sang-deuk, 83, arrived at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office around 10 a.m. He was in a wheelchair as he was during his previous appearance in January and didn't answer any question from journalists.
Lee's older brother is accused of taking a bribe from former spy agency chief Won Se-hoon in 2011 in return for helping Won keep his position at the spy agency. Lee Sang-deuk was a six term
lawmaker at the time.
A second allegation involves former Woori Financial CEO Lee Pal-sung who is accused of giving the elder Lee 800 million won ($780,000) also in exchange for him keeping his position. The former CEO also bribed Lee Myung-bak's son-in-law.
The older brother's testimony will likely strengthen the prosecution's case against the former president who, in the prosecution's view, may not comply with its summons. Lee agreed to appear, but requested a postponement so he could have more time to prepare himself.
The former President is facing several corruption allegations.
Like his older brother, the prosecution suspects the former president was bribed by the former Woori Financial CEO _ the prosecution found evidence he received some of the money.
He is also suspected of having received 1.7 billion won from the National Intelligence Service during his presidency. Investigators have said Lee asked for the money from the spy agency to cover auxiliary expenses at the presidential office.
The car parts manufacturer, DAS, is where the prosecution considers him most accountable.
Lee is facing allegations that he actually owned the company and managed a slush fund worth at least 10 billion won. His older brother is the owner of the company on paper.
He has denied owning the company since 2007 when he was running for the presidency. Lee almost lost the election due to the allegation, but was cleared after a prosecution investigation back then.
But the prosecution's latest investigation looking into the DAS slush fund has found evidence that has proven the contrary.
Establishing his ownership would be critical because if this turns out to be the case, Lee can be sent to jail for abuse of power as well as
creating a slush fund.
By Kim Se-jeong
The prosecution is stepping up its pressure on former President Lee Myung-bak, planning to summon him for questioning over diverse corruption charges.
It grilled Lee Sang-deuk, the elder brother of Lee, for a second time Wednesday.
The questioning came a week before the scheduled summoning of the former President who faces multiple allegations.
Lee Sang-deuk, 83, arrived at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office around 10 a.m. He was in a wheelchair as he was during his previous appearance in January and didn't answer any question from journalists.
Lee's older brother is accused of taking a bribe from former spy agency chief Won Se-hoon in 2011 in return for helping Won keep his position at the spy agency. Lee Sang-deuk was a six term
lawmaker at the time.
A second allegation involves former Woori Financial CEO Lee Pal-sung who is accused of giving the elder Lee 800 million won ($780,000) also in exchange for him keeping his position. The former CEO also bribed Lee Myung-bak's son-in-law.
The older brother's testimony will likely strengthen the prosecution's case against the former president who, in the prosecution's view, may not comply with its summons. Lee agreed to appear, but requested a postponement so he could have more time to prepare himself.
The former President is facing several corruption allegations.
Like his older brother, the prosecution suspects the former president was bribed by the former Woori Financial CEO _ the prosecution found evidence he received some of the money.
He is also suspected of having received 1.7 billion won from the National Intelligence Service during his presidency. Investigators have said Lee asked for the money from the spy agency to cover auxiliary expenses at the presidential office.
The car parts manufacturer, DAS, is where the prosecution considers him most accountable.
Lee is facing allegations that he actually owned the company and managed a slush fund worth at least 10 billion won. His older brother is the owner of the company on paper.
He has denied owning the company since 2007 when he was running for the presidency. Lee almost lost the election due to the allegation, but was cleared after a prosecution investigation back then.
But the prosecution's latest investigation looking into the DAS slush fund has found evidence that has proven the contrary.
Establishing his ownership would be critical because if this turns out to be the case, Lee can be sent to jail for abuse of power as well as
creating a slush fund.
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