Published : Feb. 2, 2017 - 16:12
The independent counsel probing President Park Geun-hye on corruption allegations said Thursday it has requested an arrest warrant for the wife of the embattled president’s “shadow doctor” on charges of offering bribes to a former top presidential aide.
Park Chae-yoon, 48, runs Y. Jacobs Medical, a small maker of medical appliances and cosmetics suspected to have received business favors from the government. She is married to Kim Young-jae, the owner of a cosmetic surgery clinic frequented by the president’s longtime friend Choi Soon-sil. The couple purportedly visited Cheong Wa Dae “several times” to treat the leader, despite their lack of official clearance as presidential doctors.
Park Chae-yoon is accused of offering designer bags, pricey whiskey and other bribes to An Chong-bum, a former senior presidential secretary on policy coordination who was arrested last November on charges of abusing his authority, interfering with the exercise of other’s rights and attempted coercion.
In a voice clip released by SBS late Wednesday, Park Chae-yoon called An shortly after accompanying the president on her trip to the Middle East in March 2015. An thanked her, saying the bags “scored him some points” with his wife. As she proposed a dinner meeting at a top Seoul hotel and other gifts, An agreed to take them after the fall Chuseok holiday.
“We think the bribes, including money, valuables and entertainment, would total some tens of millions of won,” counsel spokesperson Lee Kyu-chul said at a regular news briefing, declining to provide a specific figure. “But I can’t say whether the bribes were given voluntarily.”
The counsel believes that Y. Jacobs Medical received business favors in return, winning a 1.5 billion won ($1.3 million) government research and development project in 2015 and taking part in presidential overseas trips and investor meetings. The cosmetic products of John Jacobs, founded by Park’s brother, was picked for Cheong Wa Dae’s Lunar New Year presents last year and entered top duty-free malls afterward.
The counsel is also looking into allegations Kim provided free plastic surgery to An’s wife.
At a recent questioning, Park Chae-yoon reportedly argued An demanded bribes first, saying his wife “likes” bags but he could not buy them at duty-free stores because he usually flies on a charter plane with the president. Prosecutors seized the items during a raid on An’s home.
The warrant request was filed late Wednesday and a court deliberation is scheduled for early Friday.
In a related vein, the team summoned Vice Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Jeong Marn-ki to examine whether the government gave special treatment in the R&D selection process. Jeong served as a presidential secretary on trade, industry and energy before returning to the ministry last August.
Meanwhile, the war of nerves further heated up between the counsel and presidential office over an envisioned raid.
Despite Cheong Wa Dae’s repeated opposition to the plan earlier in the day, Lee reaffirmed that it will press ahead at any place relevant to the scandal, including the offices of the chief of staff, senior civil affairs secretary and medical and security teams.
From left: Choi Soon-sil, former culture minister Cho Yoon-sun, former deputy culture minister Kim Chong, former dean of Ewha‘s College of Science and Industry Convergence Kim Kyung-sook, professor Lee In-sung, and deputy minister of Trade, Industry & Energy Jeong Man-ki, and Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency lieutenant Baek Seung-seok (Yonhap)
Under the law, a raid cannot take place at sites that require military security without their approval, unless it concerns “critical national interests.”
The presidential office cited the legislation to reject the prosecution’s previous raid attempt, handing over some documents instead. The counsel argues that a normal raid is imperative, as well as a face-to-face interview with the embattled president.
“It is true that there are substantial difficulties from the legal and practical perspectives in raiding Cheong Wa Dae,” Lee said. “But we will take appropriate steps in preparation for various possibilities according to the situation.”
The counsel also plans to call in as early as next week Woo Byung-woo, a former senior civil affairs secretary, who faces allegations he deliberately connived at or assisted with Choi’s meddling in state affairs, Lee added.
By Shin Hyon-hee (
heeshin@heraldcorp.com)