The investigation into illegality by CJ Group is expanding with former deputy chief of the National Tax Service Hur Byung-ik being detained on Saturday on charges of receiving a bribe from CJ chairman Lee Jay-hyun. Lee is currently in custody on multiple charges including tax evasion and embezzlement.

Hur is suspected of having received money from CJ Group officials in return for shielding the conglomerate from the scrutiny of the tax authorities.

Hur is denying that he was bribed by CJ Group, saying that he did receive the money but handed it over to former NTS chief Jeon Goon-pyo in full. Jeon served as the NTS head from July 2006 to November 2007.

The investigators, however, are said to be looking at the possibility that Hur kept the money for himself.

According to sources, the investigators looking into the CJ case have also secured witness testimony that Lee ordered Shin Dong-ki ― the indicted CL Global Holdings vice president ― to bribe the NTS officials.

In addition, Lee is also said to have given Jeon a watch worth tens of millions of won in congratulating his appointment as the NTS chief.

By Choi He-suk  (cheesuk@heraldcorp.com)