By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter
The prosecution on Monday summoned former Ssangyong Group Chairman Kim Suk-won, former presidential aide Byeon Yang-kyoon and dismissed Dongguk University professor Shin Jeong-ah simultaneously.
Prosecutors questioned whether Byeon received hundreds of million won from Kim, and if so, where he spent it. Shin was questioned on whether she was involved in the delivery of the bribe.
In 2000, Kim was sentenced to three years in jail with the term suspended for four years after being found guilty of embezzling 31 billion won and a breach of trust. His wife Park Moon-soon said earlier she sought Byeon's influence for Kim's release when he was arrested on charges of embezzling the money.
The investigation was initiated when the prosecution found 6 billion won in Kim's house during a raid in a separate probe related to degree scammer Shin. The money was discovered in his home as the prosecution was investigating the case of Shin and her alleged lover Byeon. Park was Shin's boss at an art gallery and was suspected of being involved in sharing rebates Shin allegedly received from art dealerships.
On Sunday, the prosecution said that Kim allegedly raised a slush fund of over 100 billion won through a fake affiliate of his company while in office. They questioned Kim about his whereabouts and how he collected the money.