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Sat, April 1, 2023 | 20:32
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Dongkuk Steel offices raided over embezzlement allegations
'비자금 조성해 원정도박'…동국제강 자금흐름 추적
Posted : 2015-03-29 16:45
Updated : 2015-03-29 20:26
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By Chung Hyun-chae

Prosecutors raided the head offices of Dongkuk Steel, the nation's third-largest steel company, and the residence of its Chairman Chang Sae-joo as part of a probe into allegations of embezzlement and tax evasion within the firm.

About 50 investigators from the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office seized accounting books, overseas trade records, and related computer files from the company's headquarters in central Seoul and the offices of its affiliates from Saturday through early Sunday morning.

The prosecution also imposed overseas travel bans on Chang and 10 key executives who are allegedly involved in the case.

Dongkuk is suspected of having stashed about 10 billion won ($9 million) in illegal funds by inflating the prices of raw materials they purchased from overseas.

The company deposited most of the stashed money in the bank account of its U.S. unit. The tax authority earlier conducted an inspection of the firm to trace its dubious money flow.

Dongkuk also faces other allegations that it fabricated the amount of raw materials purchased from Russia and Japan and inflated the cost of building a power plant in Dangjin, South Chungcheong Province.

The company is also suspected of having affiliates, such as Ferrum Infra, a real estate agency in which Chang's family holds a stake, create slush funds.

Chairman Chang faces allegations about his own irregularities.

He is suspected of gambling overseas at luxurious hotels in Las Vegas by using part of the firm's embezzled money, some $2-3 million.

"We will take stern action against those committing illegal acts," an investigator said.

Prosecutors may summon Chang after the firm's accounting and management officials for questioning about the allegations.

A Dongkuk Steel official said, "Given that no serious violation of the law has been found so far, there's nothing we can say."

Dongkuk previously underwent a special tax audit after similar allegations were made in 2011.

The National Tax Service investigated the company for eight months for allegedly inflating the cost of the goods purchased from overseas including the U.S. and Southeast Asia, and creating slush funds with the money.

It was suspected that Chang used the slush funds for personal purposes including gambling, but the investigators did not find clear evidence to confirm the suspicions.

Some industry observers say that the prosecution has launched the investigation because it has obtained evidence to confirm the allegations.

The investigation is also part of the government's anti-graft drive. Many other public and private companies have been under a probe, including Keangnam Enterprises, the Korea National Oil Corp., POSCO Engineering & Construction, and Lotte Group.


'비자금 조성해 원정도박'…동국제강 자금흐름 추적

동국제강 장세주(62) 회장의 비자금 의혹을 수사하는 검찰이 회사 주변의 국내외 자금흐름 추적에 나섰다. 장 회장은 25년만에 또다시 해외 원정도박 혐의로 검찰 수사를 받는 처지가 됐다.

29일 검찰에 따르면 서울중앙지검 공정거래조세조사부(한동훈 부장검사)는 전날 오전 시작한 동국제강 압수수색을 이날 새벽 2시40분께 마무리하고 압수물을 분석 중이다.

압수수색에는 검사와 수사관 50명 이상이 투입됐고 계열사 여러 곳도 수색대상에 포함됐다. 수사가 계열사 부당지원 등 그룹경영 전반으로 확대될 가능성을 시사하는 대목이다. 

동국제강은 주로 해외법인 계좌를 이용해 비자금을 조성했다는 의심을 받고 있다. 원자재 거래가 많은 철강업체 특성상 부외자금을 손쉽게 마련할 수 있는 수법이다. 동국제강은 미국·일본·홍콩 등 세계 각지에 해외법인을 두고 있다.

이번 수사의 단초가 된 2011년 세무조사에서도 해외법인을 이용한 비자금·역외탈세 의혹이 불거졌다.

납품업체로부터 미국법인인 동국인터내셔널(DKI) 계좌로 거래대금을 받고 일부를 손실처리한 뒤 빼돌렸다는 것이다. 거래대금 부풀리기 등 전통적 수법도 동원된 비자금 전체 규모는 100억원을 넘는 것으로 전해졌다.

검찰은 장 회장이 빼돌린 돈으로 미국 라스베이거스의 고급 호텔 등지에서 도박을 했고 수십억원의 수입을 추가로 올렸다는 내용의 미국 수사당국 자료도 건네받은 것으로 알려졌다.

검찰은 빼돌린 회삿돈이 대부분 장 회장의 도박 판돈을 비롯해 일가에게 흘러들어갔을 가능성이 크다고 보고 있다. 사실상 장 회장과 경영에 참여하는 가족들의 개인비리에서 수사가 시작된 셈이다.

그러나 검찰 안팎에서는 이번 수사가 그룹 차원의 계열사 부당지원이나 회계부정 적발 등으로 이어질 가능성이 크다고 보고 있다. 이번 사건을 맡은 공정거래조세조사부가 원래 공정거래 사건을 전담하는데다 사실상 '대기업 전담 특수부' 역할을 맡고 있기 때문이다.

동국제강은 장 회장 일가가 지분을 보유한 계열사들에 그룹 차원에서 일감을 몰아준다는 지적을 끊임없이 받아왔다. IT업체 DK유엔씨와 동국제강 사옥 관리업무를 독점하는 페럼인프라 등이 대표적이다.  

검찰은 계열사들끼리 일감을 주고받는 과정에서 거래대금 부풀리기 등이 있었는지도 살펴볼 방침인 것으로 알려졌다. 

검찰과 업계에서는 장 회장의 도박 습성이 그룹에 사달을 불러온 것 아니냐는 얘기가 나온다. 

장 회장은 1990년 10월 마카오의 카지노에서 상습 도박을 벌인 혐의로 구속된 적이 있다. 그는 물류업체 천양항운(현 인터지스) 대표였다. 당시에도 회삿돈을 빼돌려 판돈을 마련했다는 의심을 사 국세청이 특별 세무조사에 나서기도 했다. (연합뉴스)
Emailhcchung@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
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