By Lee Kyung-min
Prosecutors detained two key confidants to the late Keangnam Enterprises Chairman Sung Woan-jong Wednesday on suspicion they destroyed evidence related to a bribery scandal involving Sung.
Former Keangnam executive Park Jun-ho, 49, was put behind bars after he was found to have removed surveillance camera footage, which would have been crucial evidence, during an overnight interrogation session. He was summoned a day earlier.
The prosecution also detained Lee yong-ki, the company’s former public relations director and Sung’s former secretary, for alleged involvement in the crime. He assisted the late Sung for more than 10 years.
Park, who previously worked as a secretary for a lawmaker, entered Keangnam in 2003 and was in charge of personal contact management as well as scheduling meetings with influential figures for Sung.
Detaining the two is the latest development in an investigation into the full-fledged corruption scandal surrounding the late Sung involving public figures from the highest ranks in the country.
The prosecution said Park was questioned on whether he had knowledge about bribes being delivered or did he participate in any such illegal acts.
Park reportedly accompanied the late Sung on April 7 when he met former Keangnam Vice President Yun Seung-mo, through whom Sung claimed he gave 100 million won to South Gyeongsang Province Governor Hong Joon-pyo in 2011. Sung committed suicide on April 9.
The prosecution also grilled Park over Sung writing in his diary confirming Yun's delivery of money, an incident which Park said he did not recall.
The prosecution has also questioned other former and incumbent Keangnam officials. The prosecution said it will determine whether to seek arrest warrants for the two in the near future.