Senior DP Member Kim Arrested Monday
By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter
The prosecution arrested Kim Min-seok, a member of the main opposition Democratic Party's decision-making Supreme Council, Monday, for his alleged acceptance of illegal political funds.
The arrest comes after a local court issued a third arrest warrant for him after party members physically blocked officers from arresting him on two previous occasions.
The Seoul Central District Court issued the warrant after reviewing the prosecution's request and giving Kim a chance to defend himself.
``There is evidence of his alleged violation of the Political Fund Law. He is also likely to destroy evidence, considering the way he took the illegal donation, his relations with the donors, and his attitude toward the investigation,'' the court said.
Upon the issuance, Kim was put behind bars. Since the first warrant was issued at the end of last month, Kim had refused to participate in the court review and staged a sit-in in the party headquarters in central Seoul. The court issued the warrant twice without giving him the chance for a defense, but prosecutors failed to enter the building and exercise the warrant due to physical resistance from party staff.
As the prosecution sought a warrant for the third time, Kim decided to attend the court review. At the review, about 20 party members also defended Kim.
Kim said earlier that he did not understand why the prosecution needed to arrest him for questioning. ``The warrant should be issued when a suspect is likely to flee or destroy evidence. For evidence, prosecutors have said they have all evidence to prove my allegation, and as for fleeing, my party stood guarantee for me.''
Kim allegedly took 470 million won in illegal funds from two businessmen ahead of the party's primary election for president in August last year and the general election this April, both of which he ran in unsuccessfully.
He admitted to taking the money but claimed that it was just aid from acquaintances who did not want anything in return. He called one of the businessmen ``daddy long legs,'' saying the man has been his supporter since several years ago and financed his living expenses and tuition since he studied overseas.