The second comprehensive special prosecutor's team — led by Special Prosecutor Kwon Chang-young and tasked with investigating allegations left unresolved after the three earlier special counsel probes into insurrection, Kim Keon Hee and the Marine — will question People Power Party lawmaker Yoon Han-hong as a suspect over alleged preferential treatment in the relocation of the presidential residence under the Yoon Suk Yeol administration.
The special prosecutor's team announced Tuesday that it plans to question Yoon as a suspect on charges of abuse of authority and obstruction of rights at 10 a.m. on Saturday. It will be his first appearance before the team.
According to the team, Yoon served as head of the task force overseeing the Cheong Wa Dae relocation under the Yoon Suk Yeol administration. He is suspected of involvement in selecting 21 Grams — a company with ties to Kim Keon Hee — as a contractor for the residence renovation work.
21 Grams had sponsored exhibitions held by Cobana Contents, a company Kim previously headed. The special prosecutor's team suspects that 21 Grams, which lacked a general construction license, secured the renovation contract on the strength of its personal connections to Kim.
The team is examining whether Jo, the wife of 21 Grams CEO Kim, gave Kim Keon Hee three Dior items — a jacket, a belt and a bracelet — worth 6.88 million won ($4,690) in exchange for the contract. It is also looking into whether Jo accompanied Kim Keon Hee when she exchanged a Chanel bag worth 12.71 million won, received from the Unification Church, for a different item, and whether Jo paid the price difference of approximately 3.24 million won.
The special prosecutor's team questioned Kim Keon Hee as a suspect on Wednesday on charges including abuse of authority and obstruction of rights. She reportedly refused to answer all questions during the session. Her side also stated that "what the special prosecutor is saying is a one-sided claim."
The team has also booked Yoo Gyeong-o, a former presidential office administrator considered one of Kim Keon Hee's closest associates, who previously worked at Cobana Contents. However, the team's request last month for an arrest warrant for 21 Grams CEO Kim was rejected by a court.
The special prosecutor's team has also indicted former presidential chief of staff Kim Dae-gi and former presidential office general affairs secretary Yoon Jae-sun in custody on suspicion of illegally diverting funds during the presidential residence relocation process, and indicted former presidential office management secretary Kim O-jin and former Minister of Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min without detention on the same suspicion.
bell@heraldcorp.com
