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비자금 조성 및 탈세 의혹을 받고 있는 이재현 CJ 회장이 검찰 조사를 위해 25일 오전 서초동 서울중앙지검으로 들어서며 취재진의 질문에 답하고 있다. (연합뉴스) |
CJ그룹의 비자금 조성 및 탈세 의혹으로 수사를 받는 이재현 CJ 회장이 25일 오전 검찰에 출석했다.
이 회장은 이날 오전 9시35분께 변호인과 함께 서초동 검찰청사에 도착했다. 이 회장은 피의자 신분으로 조사를 받게 된다.
이 회장은 취재진의 쏟아지는 질문에 "국민 여러분께 심려를 끼쳐드려 죄송하다. 조사에 성실히 임하겠다"고 답한 뒤 조사실로 향했다.
서울중앙지검 특수2부(윤대진 부장검사)는 이 회장을 상대로 국내외 비자금 운용을 통해 510억원의 조세를 포탈하고 CJ제일제당의 회삿돈 600여억원을 횡령한 혐 의, 일본 도쿄의 빌딩 2채를 구입하는 과정에서 회사에 350여억원의 배임을 저지른 혐의 등을 집중 조사할 방침이다.
검찰은 이 회장이 임직원 명의를 빌려 비자금으로 서미갤러리를 통해 고가의 미술품을 구입하는 방법으로 비자금을 세탁하고 관리한 의혹도 캐물을 계획이다.
검찰은 이 회장이 비자금으로 2008년 11월∼2010년 7월 CJ와 CJ제일제당 주식을 거래해 50억원의 양도차익을 챙기고 이 과정에서 외국인 투자자를 가장해 해외 차명 계좌 등을 통해 CJ그룹 주가를 조작한 혐의도 추적하고 있다.
<관련 영문 기사>
CJ chairman quizzed over alleged slush fund
By Cho Chung-un
The prosecution on Tuesday questioned CJ Group Chairman Lee Jay-hyun over allegations that he amassed massive secret funds in and out of the country for personal use.
Lee, the nephew of Samsung chairman Lee Kun-hee, appeared before the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office in southern Seoul around 9:30 a.m., two days after he was summoned by the investigators.
“I apologize for causing concern to the people, and I will sincerely respond to the investigation,” the chairman said before entering the prosecutors’ office. He was accompanied by his lawyers.
The food and entertainment giant has been under intensive investigation since May for allegedly hoarding secret funds at home and abroad using borrowed-name accounts, ghost companies and fraudulent accounting.
The prosecution believes that the alleged illegal activities were led by the 53-year-old chairman and his family. Lee is also suspected of evading 51 billion won ($44 million) in taxes and embezzling 60 billion won in company funds.
Additionally, he is accused of misappropriating another 35 billion won in company funds to buy two buildings in Tokyo and raising millions of dollars in slush funds by purchasing artworks under borrowed names. He is also suspected of hiding massive funds in overseas accounts and illegally purchasing shares of his companies by disguising himself as a foreign investor. Lee allegedly gained profits worth more than 5 billion won through the alleged stock manipulation, according to reports.
The tycoon has been under investigation several times.
In 2008, police revealed that Lee had secretly managed large funds under borrowed-name bank accounts and ordered him to pay 170 billion won in taxes. However, the National Tax Service did not file a criminal complaint against the company at the time. Questions remain as to whether the prosecution will request an arrest warrant against Lee and press charges against him.
(
christory@heraldcorp.com)
