By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter
The independent counsel is tightening its noose on top Samsung Group executives deemed responsible for allegedly creating slush funds, with the group's No. 2 man being summoned and questioned.
The questioning of Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Hak-soo on Thursday took place much sooner than expected as speculation was that the key figure would be summoned at the last stage of the investigation.
Prosecutors questioned Lee over the allegation that the group kept slush funds at bank and stock accounts, opened under its executives' names. He has been accused of having played a key role in the allegation that the group systematically helped the transfer of wealth and managerial control from the chairman to his son.
Yoon Jung-seok, assistant special prosecutor, said the vice chairman was summoned as a ``suspect,'' adding the independent counsel would call him several more times.
With the probe accelerating, other key executives allegedly involved in the group's illegalities are likely to face summons soon, including the group chairman Lee Kun-hee and his son Jae-yong.
The counsel also asked the president of the group's strategic planning office, Kim In-joo, and vice president Choi Kwang-hae to present themselves for questioning. The office is believed to have played a main role in the conglomerate's irregularities. ``Samsung executives keep delaying being summoned, saying they have previous business engagements. It is virtually a refusal of the investigation,'' Yoon said.
He said the probe will proceed faster than expected, indicating the summons of the chairman and his son are imminent.
In the meantime, the investigators summoned a staff member of Kukje Gallery, to which billions of won was sent from alleged false-name bank accounts. A former lawyer for Samsung claimed earlier that the chairman's wife Hong Ra-hee purchased works of art through two galleries, including Kukje, with the group's slush funds.
Following the summons, it is expected that the probe team will soon question Hong.
The counsel will also raid the National Tax Service to seize tax payment records of the chairman and his family members. The search warrant was issued after the tax agency refused to offer required information and documents to the investigators.