By Kim Se-jeong
Seoul police raided an office responsible for Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee’s luxury Itaewon residence, Monday. The move came in a widening investigation into big business owners’ private residences possibly being related to embezzlement and tax evasion.
The police said they confiscated documents related to accounting and construction from the maintenance office near Lee’s residence. The police said Lee allegedly paid for the construction with money from Samsung using a third person’s bank account. The residence took seven years to complete and cost more than 10 billion won.
The police are also looking into whether Samsung is paying employees hired to maintain the private residence.
The People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, an NGO, filed complaints with the prosecution, Aug. 3, making the allegations.
Police investigations into corruption of wealthy business owners involving their residences began in May this year. Prior to the Samsung family’s residence, the police raided Korean Air Chairman and CEO Cho Yang-ho’s Pyeongchang-dong home and questioned people on the scene.