Former Special Prosecutor Park Young-soo denied the allegations on the 30th, saying he was "devastated to be subjected to a search and seizure based on fictitious facts" regarding the prosecution's raid.
On the same day, Park issued a statement in the afternoon, saying, "The criminal facts stated in the warrant are completely groundless."
He emphasized that the prosecution's forced investigation was "based on evasive and unfounded statements from related parties," and asserted, "I have never participated in the Daejang-dong development project, nor received or promised money or goods in exchange for financial brokerage or any other favors."
Earlier, the Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 1 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Eom Hee-jun) conducted searches at multiple locations, including the residences and offices of former Special Prosecutor Park and his special prosecutor assistant-turned-lawyer Yang Jae-sik, as well as the headquarters of Woori Bank, on charges including bribery under the Special Economic Crimes Act.
Former Special Prosecutor Park is accused of, while serving as chairman of the board of Woori Bank in 2014, assisting Kim Man-bae, the major shareholder of Hwacheon Daeyu Asset Management who was preparing the consortium for the Daejang-dong development project, and others in forming the consortium, and agreeing to receive a large sum of money in exchange for soliciting project financing (PF) loans.
Lawyer Yang, identified as an accomplice of former Special Prosecutor Park, is suspected of handling practical matters during this process and promising the Daejang-dong group shares worth about 20 billion won or equivalent compensation.
The prosecution is expected to summon former Special Prosecutor Park and lawyer Yang after analyzing the materials secured on the day and conducting witness interviews.
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