Prosecution forms task force to collect fines from former PM

By Lee Kyung-min

Han Myeong-sook

The prosecution said Monday that it has set up a special task force to collect the 880 million won ($700,000) fine imposed on former Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook, who was put behind bars in August for a bribery conviction.

It is the second time that such a task force has been organized to collect fines from a specific person, following the previous one set up in 2013 to collect the unpaid fines of 167.2 billion won imposed in 1997 on former President Chun Doo-hwan, who had refused to pay.

It is also the first time for the prosecution to form the task force immediately after the guilty verdict was confirmed.

In August, the Supreme Court upheld a high court ruling that sentenced the former prime minister to two years in prison and fined her 880 million won for taking 900 million won in illegal political funds in 2007 from Han Man-ho, the former head of construction company Hansin Gunyoung.

Prosecutors said that they formed the task force after Han failed to submit a plan to pay the fine. She had some 220 million won in deposits and an apartment worth 150 million won, but also had 390 million won in debt, they said.

“We formed the task force after determining that Han has no property of her own with which to pay the fine. We expect the measure is the best way to collect the fine,” a prosecutor said.

The prosecution may seize Han’s property under a related law.