By Jung Min-ho
Former President Park Geun-hye refused to be questioned in prison by prosecutors, Tuesday, over allegations she received bribes from the National Intelligence Service (NIS) while in office.
Senior prosecutor Yang Suk-jo and three other investigators from the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office visited Seoul Detention Center at 8:30 a.m. to question Park, who allegedly received 4 billion won ($3.7 million) from the spy agency.
Park, who has been in presentencing detention since March because of many corruption charges, agreed to meet them in the interrogation room, but told them to leave without answering any questions.
"We repeatedly asked her to cooperate, but she was adamant … It seems to be meaningless to return to question her further," one investigator said. "Under the law, there is no way to force her to cooperate with the investigation."
Many had already expected such a reaction from her. She has been boycotting all sessions in her trial since October in protest of the court decision to extend her detention for six months more. She claimed the decision was unfair and she had already lost faith in the nation's justice system.
Prosecutors believe Park received kickbacks from the NIS through her two former aides ― Ahn Bong-geun and Lee Jae-man ― between May 2013 and July 2016. Park is expected to be indicted on that charge soon without further questioning.
Ahn and Lee, who have already been arrested, insist they did nothing but follow her orders to deliver the NIS envelopes to her. The two also claim they did not even know what was in the envelopes.
The prosecution reportedly secured evidence that she used some of the money on personal expenses.
The money was taken from the NIS special activity budget, also known as the black budget, which spy agents can use for classified operations without leaving any records.
Two former NIS chiefs under her government ― Nam Jae-joon and Lee Byung-kee ― have also been arrested on charges of misappropriating the budget and giving the money as bribes to Park.
Three other former presidential aides ― Cho Yoon-sun, Hyun Ki-hwan and Shin Dong-chul ― are also accused of receiving NIS money. While Cho and Hyun allegedly each pocketed 5 million won a month for one year, Shin allegedly took 3 million won every month for about two years.
Former President Park Geun-hye refused to be questioned in prison by prosecutors, Tuesday, over allegations she received bribes from the National Intelligence Service (NIS) while in office.
Senior prosecutor Yang Suk-jo and three other investigators from the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office visited Seoul Detention Center at 8:30 a.m. to question Park, who allegedly received 4 billion won ($3.7 million) from the spy agency.
Park, who has been in presentencing detention since March because of many corruption charges, agreed to meet them in the interrogation room, but told them to leave without answering any questions.
"We repeatedly asked her to cooperate, but she was adamant … It seems to be meaningless to return to question her further," one investigator said. "Under the law, there is no way to force her to cooperate with the investigation."
Many had already expected such a reaction from her. She has been boycotting all sessions in her trial since October in protest of the court decision to extend her detention for six months more. She claimed the decision was unfair and she had already lost faith in the nation's justice system.
Prosecutors believe Park received kickbacks from the NIS through her two former aides ― Ahn Bong-geun and Lee Jae-man ― between May 2013 and July 2016. Park is expected to be indicted on that charge soon without further questioning.
Ahn and Lee, who have already been arrested, insist they did nothing but follow her orders to deliver the NIS envelopes to her. The two also claim they did not even know what was in the envelopes.
The prosecution reportedly secured evidence that she used some of the money on personal expenses.
The money was taken from the NIS special activity budget, also known as the black budget, which spy agents can use for classified operations without leaving any records.
Two former NIS chiefs under her government ― Nam Jae-joon and Lee Byung-kee ― have also been arrested on charges of misappropriating the budget and giving the money as bribes to Park.
Three other former presidential aides ― Cho Yoon-sun, Hyun Ki-hwan and Shin Dong-chul ― are also accused of receiving NIS money. While Cho and Hyun allegedly each pocketed 5 million won a month for one year, Shin allegedly took 3 million won every month for about two years.
