Presidential secretary referred to prosecution

By Yi Whan-woo

Woo Byung-woo

An investigator looking into a corruption case involving Woo Byung-woo, senior civil affairs secretary for President Park Geun-hye, submitted a petition to the prosecution seeking a formal investigation, legal sources said Thursday.

Lee Seok-soo ― the independent investigator who mainly deals with corruption involving the President’s relatives and aides ― requested the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office (SPO) in a letter to allow an investigation of allegations of embezzlement and abuse of authority.

The SPO is expected to assign the case to relevant officers after reviewing the letter, according to the sources.

Woo has been suspected of using his wife’s company to dodge tax and also understate his and his family assets in violation of the law that requires high-ranking civil servants to fully disclose their wealth.

It is also alleged that Woo peddled influence for his son to receive special treatment as a conscript police officer; while he is also being accused of receiving favors from Jin Kyung-joon, a senior prosecutor mired in a major bribery scandal, in selling real estate belonging to his family.

Lee, who directly reports to the President, began an investigation into Woo late last month in the wake of growing criticism of Cheong Wa Dae for keeping the presidential secretary in place despite the series of accusations against him.

Under the law, an independent investigator is given 30 days before wrapping up a case and also can ask to extend the probe for another 60 days.

“It is seen as Lee being convinced the allegations against Woo were valid and further investigation is needed to uncover the truth,” an official said.

Meanwhile, Lee was embroiled in a controversy over allegedly leaking details of the inspection to a journalist, Wednesday.

It is illegal for an independent investigator to disclose information concerning an ongoing investigation. Any violators can be sentenced to up to five years in prison or suspended from their jobs for a maximum of five years.

Lee flatly denied the allegations, saying “I have never contacted the media and revealed something about the investigation.”

This was Lee’s first case after the President appointed him to the post in March 2015.

The President created the post to improve transparency and reduce corruption by monitoring and investigating possible irregularities by the President’s family and senior government officials.