SLS chief presents evidence of presidential aide graft

SLS Chairman Lee Kook-chul on Monday was summoned to the Seoul Central Prosecutors’ Office to explain his allegations that he offered 1 billion won ($847,000) as bribe to former Vice Culture Minister Shin Jae-min.

Before heading into the office at 10 a.m., Lee showed reporters two large suitcases that he said contained credit card slips, car lease records, voucher receipts and others that would prove that President Lee Myung-bak’s associates had accepted his requests for favor from 2002.

He said he would present the documents to the prosecution as evidence.

“At the end of patience will come truth, and at the end of the truth will come big changes and innovation. I have been interrogated by prosecutors before. I will speak the truth only,” he said.

Lee alleges Shin used the money to seek favors from influential figures including Kwak Seung-jun, chairman of the Presidential Council for Future and Vision, and Lim Jae-hyun, presidential secretary for policy publicity. Shin denied the allegation.

Lee also brought in documents and photographs suggesting that SLS Japan offered dinner and entertainment worth 5 million won last year to former Vice Minister of Knowledge Economy Park Young-joon while he was working at the Prime Minister’s Office.

Park, Kwak and Lim filed a libel suit against Lee last month. Investigators will examine whether Lee’s allegations would constitute defamation.

On Sunday, Lee took a step further and targeted Justice Minister Kwon Jae-jin. At a news briefing Sunday, Lee said he had lobbied to Kwan in April in an attempt to save his business from tumbling. “Kwon tried to destroy my company couple of years ago when he was a high-ranking official at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office. It was unlawful. I tried to save my business once again,” he said.

The Ministry of Justice on Monday dismissed Lee’s allegations as groundless, and said that Kwon does not know Lee. 

By  Bae Ji-sook (baejisook@heraldcorp.com)