Testimony at hearing fuels suspicions of Park's bribery
Ko Young-tae, former business partner of Choi Soon-sil, speaks during a parliamentary hearing on the corruption scandal involving Choi, Wednesday. / Yonhap
By Jun Ji-hye
Testimony from Choi Soon-sil’s former close associate and business partner, Ko Young-tae, at a National Assembly hearing, Wednesday, is fueling bribery suspicions against President Park Geun-hye.
Ko told lawmakers Choi paid for clothes and bags that he had made for Park.
Legal experts say if Ko’s testimony proves to be true, the prosecution could charge Park with bribery.
Choi is Park’s friend who is suspected of using her longtime ties to the President to meddle in important state affairs, including government appointments, and extort money and favors from major conglomerates.
During the second round of the National Assembly hearings into the corruption scandal, Ko said his company made 100 clothing items and 30 to 40 bags, which cost 45 million won ($39,000) in total, for the President.
When asked about who paid for them, Ko said, “As seen in the CCTV records, Choi paid after taking money out of her own wallet.”
When asked whether the money seemed to be Choi’s own money, Ko said “Yes.”
Rep. Hwang Young-cheul of the ruling Saenuri Party said if Choi purchased presidential garments using her own money, this should be seen as bribing Park.
“Cheong Wa Dae did not pay for the President’s clothes and bags,” he said. “Choi herself purchased them as gifts for the President. They were apparently bribes, which were in return for Choi’s influence-peddling.”
The presidential office denied the bribery allegations.
Cheong Wa Dae said Thursday the President herself paid for all the clothes and bags, which she bought for official and private occasions through Choi.
It said Choi did not spend her own money on Park’s garments and accessories.
But Rep. Youn So-ha of the minor opposition Justice Party brought up the claim that Park is believed to have 370 clothing items valued at an estimated 700 million won.
“Choi is believed to have paid the full price,” he said. “If Park fails to prove the amounts she paid, bribery charges will be applied.”
Youn added that an independent counsel investigation should find this out in addition to other allegations including one that the President pressured the conglomerates to back Choi and her daughter.