Prosecutors Verify Claims About Gyeonggi Governor's Alleged Bribery

The Supreme Prosecutors' Office Special Investigation Division is verifying the truth of allegations after a construction broker surnamed Kwon, indicted on charges of handing 800 million won to former lawmaker Park Hyeok-gyu, stated during prosecution investigation that he also provided money to Gyeonggi Governor Son Hak-gyu.

A prosecution official said on the 4th, "Kwon stated that when he met both former lawmaker Park and Governor Son together, he stepped out midway and loaded a box containing 300 million won into the governor's car trunk. However, the credibility of Kwon's statement is weak, so the prosecution is taking a cautious stance."

Kwon stated that he provided 800 million won to former lawmaker Park and 500 million won to Gwangju City Mayor Kim Yong-gyu, but the first-instance court found guilt for only 200 million won of the charges against former lawmaker Park and 300 million won of the charges against Mayor Kim.

The prosecution plans to request a warrant for arrest of Han Hyun-gyu, director of the Gyeonggi Development Research Institute, who was detained on charges of bribery under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes.

Han is accused of receiving 1 billion won from J Construction, the operator of an apartment housing complex construction project in Opo-eup, Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi Province between September and October of last year, along with a request to obtain approval for changes to a Type 1 district unit plan, and receiving several hundred million won from funeral services company M regarding the selection of a Pangyo crematorium operator.

Han stated to prosecutors that he received 300 million won from J Construction and 350 million won from M and used the funds for an underground organization called "People Building Grand Seoul," while claiming it was unrelated to Governor Son. <Yonhapnews>