'Testimony conspiracy' causing stir

Ko Young-tae

By Kim Bo-eun

A controversy has erupted after a report that Rep. Lee Man-hee of the ruling Saenuri Party colluded with a witness involved in the scandal surrounding President Park Geun-hye’s confidant Choi Soon-sil, in providing false answers at a hearing for the National Assembly’s investigation of the scandal.

The local daily Joongang Ilbo reported Saturday that Ko Young-tae, a former close friend of Choi, told the paper on Tuesday that Park Heon-young, a former official of the K-Sports Foundation controlled by Choi, cooperated with Rep. Lee to plan out the perjurious statements ahead of Thursday’s fourth hearing.

“Park Heon-young will provide a false testimony at the fourth hearing, after having planned things out with a Saenuri lawmaker,” Ko was quoted as saying by the paper.

“When asked whether he saw a tablet computer while working with Choi, Park will reply that he saw me carrying it around. He will also mention that I asked him to bring a charger for the computer.”

The tablet computer ― presumed to be owned by Choi ― contained classified files including early drafts of the President’s speeches. It is believed to be key evidence for Choi’s alleged meddling in state affairs, while she has denied having a tablet.

At the hearing on Thursday, two days after Ko’s “forecast,” Rep. Lee questioned Park Heon-young about the computer and he gave the predicted answers.

However, Lee said Ko’s claims were untrue.

“I have never met Park Heon-young or even spoken over the phone with him,” he said in a press conference at the Assembly, Saturday, vowing to take legal measures against the false claims.

Lee said he met a staffer of The Blue K, a paper company Choi set up in Germany. “The staffer told me Ko lied about the computer at the previous hearing, saying it did not belong to him,” Lee said.

Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) Spokesman Youn Kwan-suk said, “If the report (by the Joongang Ilbo) is true, this would be appalling. Those behind the move to interfere with the Assembly’s probe will be unveiled and the people will not remain fooled.”

At the fourth hearing, Rep. Park Young-sun of the DPK disclosed a document from the K-Sports Foundation titled “How to respond to investigations by the independent counsel and the National Assembly.”

Chung Tong-choon, chairman of the foundation, said when he took the witness stand he created the document himself and shared it with those working for the foundation.

The document showed which lawmakers could help them ― Lee and other two Saenuri lawmakers’ names were marked in blue, saying they may be helpful, while Reps. Park Young-sun and An Min-suk from the main opposition DPK were marked in red.