By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter
Chun Shin-il, CEO of Sejoongnamo Tour, said Wednesday that he had given money to wrestling referees in the 2008 Beijing Olympics but claimed that they were not bribes but tokens of appreciation.
During testimony at his trial on charges of taking bribes, Chun, also chairman of the Korea Wrestling Federation, said, ``I gave money to international referees.''
He was explaining how he received and spent 150,000 Chinese Yuan or about 25 million won from Park Yeon-cha, CEO of shoemaking company Taekwang. Park, the federation's vice president at that time, was suspected of giving bribes to former President Roh Moo-hyun, who killed himself during a prosecution investigation of his family last May.
Chun, known as a close aide of President Lee Myung-bak, argued that the money he gave the referees was not intended to influence the outcome of matches involving Korean wrestlers but a ``thank you'' gesture.
He said the recipients were referees from poor countries and transfers were made in restroom facilities.
The tour agency president also told the court that he didn't think it was serious.
Chun was indicted last year for having pressured tax authorities to suspend an audit into Park in 2008 after receiving about 700 million won ($560,000) from him.
He is also suspected of evading some 10 billion won in taxes in the process of giving stakes in his company to his three children in April 2006.
Prosecutors have demanded a four-year prison term and a fine of 15 billion won for Park. Sentencing by the Seoul Central District Court is slated for Feb. 5.