Lee, Hong will be indicted this week

By Lee Kyung-min

The prosecution said Sunday it will indict former Prime Minister Lee Wan-koo and South Gyeongsang Governor Hong Joon-pyo as early as this week on bribery charges, but is unlikely to seek detention warrants against them.

The two are among eight people mentioned in a hand-written bribery list left by the late Keangnam Enterprises Chairman Sung Woan-jong before he committed suicide in April.

“We are in the process of finalizing the date to bring charges against them,” a prosecutor said.

The two have been summoned for questioning.

The prosecution said the former prime minister is suspected of receiving 30 million won ($27,000) in illegal funds from Sung during his National Assembly by-election campaign in April 2013.

The prosecution suspects that Sung gave Lee the money in his campaign office in Buyeo, South Chungcheong Province, on April 4.

Surveillance camera footage showed Sung's car passed through the Buyeo tollgate at 4 p.m. that day.

The prosecution reportedly secured necessary testimony after questioning Sung's former secretary, surnamed Geum, and Lee's former chauffeur, surnamed Yun.

South Gyeongsang Governor Hong is suspected of having accepted 100 million won in bribes from Sung in 2011 when he was running for the chairmanship of the Grand National Party, a predecessor of the now ruling Saenuri Party.

Testimony from Hong’s close aides was also secured, the prosecution added.

If prosecutors detect any circumstantial evidence that the two political heavyweights engaged in destroying evidence, they will add further charges accordingly.