Prosecutors said Wednesday that they will seek an arrest warrant against a CJ Group executive accused of playing a key role in managing massive slush funds for the conglomerate's chairman.
The vice president, surnamed Kim, of the conglomerate's Chinese corporate body, is suspected to be fully aware of the size and current situations of Chairman Lee Jae-hyun's slush funds both at home and abroad, and the scale of assets kept in borrowed names.
The Seoul Central Prosecutors' Office probing the case asked Kim twice to appear for questioning, but he has repeatedly disobeyed the summons, officials said.
Kim, who had left the country just before the probe began, is currently staying in China, they said.
The food and entertainment conglomerate has been under investigation for allegations that it created the secret funds worth tens of millions of dollars overseas in such countries as the United States and Indonesia, and evaded taxes in the process.
Prosecutors have been focusing their efforts on determining the size of the secret slush funds and where the illegal money was spent, according to officials.
Another CJ executive, surnamed Shin, has already been arrested pending trial for allegedly playing a key role in the irregularities.
The vice president of the Hong Kong-based animal feed subsidiary of CJ Group, CJ Global Holdings Ltd., is also a close aide to chairman Lee.
Prosecutors suspect Lee ordered or was regularly briefed about the group's alleged wrongdoing from Shin and Kim.
Lee is expected to be summoned later this month or early next month for further questioning over his alleged violation, according to sources. (Yonhap News)
