|
February 28, 2008
|
|
| With Lee Myung-bak fully cleared by prosecutors of any involvement in the scandal, the next turn in the long-running saga of the BBK financial mess could point a finger at the National Intelligence Agency during the last months of the Roh Moo-hyun administration, sources close to the investigation said yesterday. Prosecutors have evidence that the return of Kim Kyung-joon, Lee’s one-time business partner, on the eve of the presidential election was planned by Kim’s sister, politicians and spy agency officials, a source said yesterday. The return of Kim, who founded BBK and is on trial for fraud and embezzlement in the case, prompted the renewed investigation into Lee that lasted until last week. According to a source with the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, Kim’s elder sister Erica Kim, 44, a Korean-American lawyer, played a key role in her brother’s return to face criminal charges here one month before the December election. The Kims claimed that Lee, who was the GNP presidential candidate, was the real beneficiary of a massive fraud related to BBK. The charge did not dent Lee’s landslide victory. “We are investigating an allegation that Erica Kim contacted politicians on behalf of her brother, who was detained in the U.S., to arrange his return to Korea,” the source said. “We have circumstantial evidence that Erica Kim was in contact with politicians and officials of the National Intelligence Service last year. We are reviewing a plan to seek her extradition to Korea to question her directly.” Abruptly dropping a legal battle to stay in the U.S., Kim Kyung-joon was extradited on Nov. 16. According to the source, a cellmate of Kim’s in the United States made the allegations. “Kim told me that two or three National Intelligence Service officials were helping him,” the man was quoted as saying. “Kim even gave me their names.” By Jung Hyo-sik JoongAng Ilbo/ Ser Myo-ja Staff Reporter [myoja@joongang.co.kr] |
|
