Song Young-gil, the former leader of the Democratic Party of Korea who was identified as the 'pinnacle' of the 2021 Democratic Party convention cash envelope distribution scandal, appeared at the prosecution on the 8th.
From 9 a.m. that day, Song was being investigated as a suspect on charges including bribery under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes, violations of the Political Parties Act, and the Political Funds Act by the Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 2 (Chief Prosecutor Choi Jae-hoon) of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office.
Former leader of the Democratic Party, Song Young-gil, who was identified as the ultimate beneficiary of the Democratic Party's cash envelope scandal, is holding a press conference as he appears for his first summons investigation on the 8th at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@
Song arrived at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office building around 8:25 a.m. He claimed, "The prosecution is conducting politically motivated investigations," and added, "Since they have failed to fabricate evidence against me properly, they are focusing all efforts on separate investigations by raiding and summoning about 100 people around me." He also stated, "If the prosecution submits evidence fabricated through about 100 raids to the court, I will contest the charges in court," and said he would exercise his right to remain silent during the investigation that day.
He expressed strong dissatisfaction toward the prosecution investigating him, saying, "They are acting like the slave guards of the Goryeo military regime, voluntarily serving as a security force defending the president's family’s corruption."
The prosecution plans to confirm more clearly the charges against Democratic Party lawmakers suspected of receiving cash envelopes through Song’s investigation and to lay the groundwork for compulsory investigations. Based on the results of the investigation that day, the prosecution is also expected to review the issue of detention over the weekend.
In particular, the investigation team believes that Song was involved in the distribution of 20 cash envelopes containing 3 million won each to Democratic Party lawmakers at the National Assembly Main Building’s Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee small conference room and the Members' Office Building over two days, April 28?29, 2021, ahead of the party convention, by independent lawmaker Yoon Kwan-seok (63, indicted in custody).
Additionally, Song is suspected of receiving about 40 million won in bribes through an external support organization called the 'Peace and Livelihood Issues Research Institute' (Meoksayeon) from Park Yong-ha, the former chairman of the Yeosu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (75), in exchange for resolving permit issues related to the expansion of a waste incineration plant.
A prosecution official told reporters the day before, "There are many matters to be confirmed through the investigation," and added, "Since he was even a party leader, we expect him to cooperate so that the truth will be revealed during the investigation." The official also said, "Once Song’s investigation is completed, summonses for the lawmakers who received the money will also be considered."
The prosecution believes that 21 Democratic Party lawmakers received cash envelopes. During the trial on charges of violating the Political Parties Act against lawmaker Yoon and Kang Rae-gu, a standing auditor of Korea Water Resources Corporation, held at the Seoul Central District Court on the 20th of last month, the list of 21 lawmakers was disclosed while questioning Park Yong-soo, who worked as Song’s aide. The list included lawmakers Kim Nam-guk, Kim Byung-wook, Kim Seung-nam, Kim Seung-won, Kim Young-ho, Kim Hoe-jae, Min Byung-duk, Park Sung-jun, Park Young-soon, Park Jung, Baek Hye-ryun, Ahn Ho-young, Yoon Kwan-seok, Yoon Jae-gap, Lee Sung-man, Lee Yong-bin, Lim Jong-sung, Jeon Yong-gi, Han Jun-ho, Heo Jong-sik, and Hwang Un-ha.
Song has maintained his position that he was unaware of the cash envelope distribution allegations and that the prosecution is conducting illegal separate investigations. He had been staying in France since December last year as a visiting research professor at the Paris School of Business (ESCP) but returned early in April after the cash envelope investigation began. Since then, he has consistently denied the charges in public.
At a book concert for his book 'Song Young-gil’s Declaration of War' held in Busan on the 3rd, he indicated his intention to refuse testimony by saying, "If I appear before the prosecution, I will tell them not to ask me anything before the investigation into Kim Geon-hee’s stock manipulation allegations." In May and June, he also attempted a 'self-appearance' at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, saying, "Please do not harass the people around me and arrest me, Song Young-gil," but the attempt failed.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
