Ex-spy chief further cornered

By Kim Tae-gyu

Prosecutors are investigating three National Intelligence Service (NIS) officials on suspicion of having received bribes from a construction company in return for peddling influence.

The Munhwa Ilbo reported Thursday that prosecutors secured circumstantial evidence that Hwangbo Engineering & Construction has offered bribes to the NIS officials.

Suspicions surfaced that the officials are lieutenants of NIS Director Won Sei-hoon and helped the contractor gain special treatment in various projects and businesses.

If the report proves true, the former NIS chief, also a close aide of former President Lee Myung-bak, would be further cornered because he is accused of ordering his agents to intervene in the presidential election late last year ― the prosecution indicted him without detention.

When contacted, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office refused to confirm whether the report is true or not.