Ex-minister under corruption probe

By Lee Kyung-min

Kim Yang

Former Patriots and Veterans Affairs Minister Kim Yang is under investigation regarding allegations that he accepted at least 1 billion won ($894,000) in bribes in exchange for exerting his influence on a defense contract.

According to the Seoul Central Prosecutors’ Office, Kim is suspected of receiving the bribes from Agusta Westland of the United Kingdom. In return, he influenced defense officials to forge an evaluation report on the firm’s AW159 helicopters in order to help the firm win a 590 billion won ($540 million) contract in January 2013.

Kim served as veterans affairs minister from March 2008 to February 2011 under the former Lee Myung-bak administration.

At the time, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) chose Agusta Westland over Sea Hawk of the United States.

There have been suspicions that the U.K. firm won the bid despite low performances of its products.

The prosecution suspects that Kim used his personal connections established while working at a defense firm in Europe from the early 1990s.

The prosecution also suspects that Kim had several of his subordinates involved in the alleged crime.

Already, eight former and incumbent admirals are under investigation and in physical detention for their suspected involvement in the alleged document forgery.

The prosecution reportedly secured evidence after questioning them, as well as detected suspicious cash transfers in Kim’s bank account.

The prosecution will look into possibility whether any other high-ranking officials are involved in the alleged bribery.

Already, the prosecution secured official schedules, including photographs of Adm. Choi Yoon-hee from October 2011 to September 2013, to determine which influential figures he met with and on how many occasions.

Depending on the prosecution’s findings, the probe might expand to those of higher ranks.

The prosecution said that Kim will be called in for questioning by as early as next week.

Kim is the grandson of Kim Gu, a prominent independence fighter during the Japanese colonial rule (1910-1945).

Kim’s father is Kim Shin, who served as the 6th Air Force Chief of Staff from 2010-12.