By Lee Hyo-sik
A KBS reporter suspected of eavesdropping on a closed-door meeting of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) last month was found to have replaced his laptop and cell phone before a police search and seizure raid.
Yeongdeungpo Police Station said Tuesday that the phone and the computer confiscated by police officers on July 8 were not the ones used by the 33-year-old reporter, surnamed Jang, when he allegedly bugged the DP meeting on June 23.
Police raised the possibility that the reporter might have disposed of his previous phone and laptop on purpose to destroy evidence.
“After examining the confiscated goods, we found that Jang began using a new mobile phone on June 29 and a new laptop on June 30. What we have are not the ones he used when he was suspected of eavesdropping the closed-door meeting,” a police officer said. “We need to secure Jang’s old computer and phone to confirm the alleged bugging.”
The scandal erupted on June 24 when Rep. Han Sun-kyo of the ruling Grand National Party (GNP) criticized DP’s opposition to the plan to raise TV subscription charges during a subcommittee meeting. Han cited comments made by some DP members at their secret party meeting a day earlier.
The party had initially insisted that the GNP bugged the meeting where Chairman Sohn Hak-kyu and other members of a National Assembly committee discussed strategies on the move to increase the subscription fee.
But later, it pointed a finger at the state-funded broadcaster KBS as the culprit. The opposition party filed a complaint with the police, claiming that its private meeting was bugged.
The incident has been attracting keen public attention as similar allegations led to the closure of a 168-year-old tabloid in Britain. The News of The World was forced to close its doors on July 9, following revelations that the British Sunday newspaper hacked phone calls and messages of up to 4,000 people, including crime victims, celebrities and politicians.
Police said they will start questioning officials involved in the scandal here.
“We will summon Jang this week for questioning about why he replaced his cellular phone and laptop soon after the allegation surfaced. We will also check whether the reporter acted alone or if KBS was systematically involved in the alleged bugging,” the officer said.
Police also plan to call in Rep. Han for questioning as soon as he returns home from a trip to Europe.
KBS has issued a statement, dismissing its involvement. The state-run broadcaster said it never ordered reporters to engage in bugging or other illicit acts.
“We can’t stress enough that no KBS reporters were ever engaged in eavesdropping. We will seek legal actions against those who raise groundless allegations against us,” it said
The DP is demanding KBS to reveal the truth about the affair and take proper measures to hold the people involved accountable.
“KBS has been saying that it received help from a third party closely involved with the closed-door meeting. But it is not true. We suspect the bugging was part of a KBS ploy to slander the opposition party,” it said.
DP Chairman Sohn repeated his demands that the broadcaster confess.
“KBS must come clean about all allegations. It should explain what really happened to the people and those who are responsible should take responsibility,” Sohn said at a meeting of senior DP members Tuesday.
Police had looked into all 19 DP officials who participated in the behind-the-scenes meeting to check whether any of them leaked what was discussed, but could not find any evidence suggesting anyone did so.
They also concluded that it was almost impossible for anyone to eavesdrop on the meeting outside the door, putting greater weight on the possibility that someone planted a bug inside the meeting room.