Kim is one of key men in unraveling scandal of President Park and Choi Soon-sil
South Korea’s independent counsel team investigating a scandal involving President Park Geun-hye, is taking aim at bribery charges against Samsung Group, as well as suspected abuse of power by a former top presidential aide.
The team on Monday summoned a former senior official at the country’s national pension fund on charges of dereliction of duty over the merger in July 2015 between Cheil Industries and Samsung C&T, a deal to create a de-facto holding company of South Korea’s largest family-run conglomerate.
It was extremely crucial to Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong to inherit management control from his father Chairman Lee Kun-hee who has been hospitalized for over two and a half years for heart attack.
Foreign owners of Samsung C&T shares, including U.S.-based hedge fund Elliott Management, opposed the deal on an unfair merger ratio. But the deal was approved by just over the two-thirds of Samsung C&T shareholders with the support from the National Pension Service (NPS), then-single largest shareholder of the Samsung unit.
Hong Wan-sun, the former NPS official, is suspected of having downplayed oppositions to the deal from outside advisory groups and having played a key role in encouraging the national pension fund to vote for the merger.
Moon Hyung-pyo, then-health and welfare minister supervising the national pension fund, is suspected of having ordered the NPS to cast the decisive vote for the merger.
Investigators from the independent counsel team reportedly raided the homes of Moon and a former presidential secretary on health and welfare earlier in the day, as part of investigation into their possible pressures on the NPS.
The team officially kicked off its probe last Wednesday into the scandal involving the impeached president and her longtime confidante Choi Soon-sil.
Prosecutors stormed the offices of the health and welfare ministry and the NPS on the day, indicating its main targetting of the bribery charges between Samsung and Choi.
Samsung is suspected of having offered a financial assistance to Chung Yoo-ra, Choi’s daughter, for her equestrian training in return for President Park allegedly ordering the NPS to support the merger through Choi’s brokerage. By local law, the bribery can sentence Choi and President Park to the maximum of life imprisonment.
The No. 1 South Korean conglomerate also made the biggest donation among tens of chaebols to two nonprofit sports and culture foundations presumably controlled by Choi.
Former vice minister of culture, sports and tourism Kim Chong, who was summoned by the special prosecutor team on Saturday and Sunday, is reportedly set to be summoned again later in the day for his involvement in the bribery charges.
According to local newspaper Hankyoreh, the independent counsel team found that the former culture and sports minister met with a Samsung Electronics president to discuss the way of financially assisting Choi’s daughter, an equestrian athlete.
The meeting came just days before President Park sit down face-to-face with Samsung Vice Chairman Lee in July last year. Text messages exchanged at the time among Samsung executives who are close aides to Vice Chairman Lee showed the discussion on how to support the equestrian training of Choi’s daughter.
Meanwhile, the special prosecutor team took aim at former presidential chief of staff who is suspected of having been involved in, or at least connived at, wrongdoings linked to the scandal.
Investigators raided the home of Kim Ki-choon, who served as chief secretary to President Park between Aug. 2013 to Feb. 2015, to secure computer hard disks, diaries and mobile phones, according to local media reports.
The team’s deputy spokesman Hong Jung-seok confirmed the reports, but he did not elaborate further.
Kim is seen as one of key men in unraveling the complicated scandal involving President Park and Choi Soon-sil as he is one of the closest aides to the impeached president.
He worked as the department head of the Korean Central Intelligence Agency (KCIA), predecessor of the National Intelligence Service (NIS), in charge of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) affairs in the 1970s under former President Park Chung-hee, father of the impeached leader.
Under the Park Geun-hye presidency, Kim is suspected of having deeply engaged in the highest-level, presidential decision-making process as Park’s chief secretary, including the illegalities surrounding the scandal.
The special prosecutor team searched Kim’s home on suspicion that he ordered the vice culture minister in Oct. 2014 to fire six senior culture ministry officials, abusing his power. The team is reportedly investigating into Kim’s illegal involvement in the culture and sports ministry’s other personnel management.
The Monday search and seizure may be a sign that the independent counsel takes off his coat to its investigation into the former presidential chief of staff’s involvement in the scandal.
Investigators also raided the residences and offices of the culture ministry officials, including Culture Minister Cho Yoon-sun.
Agni-IV likely to be test-fired from Odisha coast today
A user trial of nuclear capable two-stage surface-to-surface ballistic missile Agni-IV is likely to be test-fired from the Abdul Kalam Island, off Damra village on the Odisha coast today.
Quoting Defence sources AIR correspondent reports that the trial will be carried out if the weather is favourable for the test. The Agni-IV test is aimed at revalidating new technologies incorporated in Agni-IV system and checking the readiness of armed forces to launch the missile on its own.
Agni-IV is a two-stage, surface-to-surface missile that is 20 metres long and weighs 17 tonnes. It can carry a one-tonne nuclear warhead over a distance of 4,000 kilometre. Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) designed and developed AGNI-IV, is the sixth test of the missile and second user associate launch from the Wheeler Island. On December 26, India had successfully launched its longest range Agni-V missile which drew attention of many nations including China.
Putin said:He would not stoop to irresponsible diplomacy
US, thirty-five Russian diplomats expelled from the United States by President Barack Obama have left the country, Russian news agencies report. An embassy official said the plane had taken off with all the affected personnel and their families aboard.
Mr Obama ordered the expulsion in response to alleged hacking of the US Democratic Party and Clinton campaign during the 2016 presidential election. Mr Obama’s order had given the affected diplomats just 72 hours to leave the country.
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev expressed his disappointment over US President Barack Obama’s decision to introduce restrictions against Russian diplomats, as a reply to alleged Russian interference in the US presidential election.
“It is sad that the Obama administration, which started its life with restoring cooperation, ends it in anti-Russian agony. RIP.” Dmitry Medvedev wrote on his Twitter page on Friday.The head of the Upper House Committee for International Relations, Senator Konstantin Kosachev, has also described the latest US move as “agony.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin had been expected to respond in kind, with the expulsion of US diplomats from its territory. However, he later said he would not stoop to irresponsible diplomacy, but rather attempt to repair relations once Donald Trump takes office. President-elect Trump has promised a revelation about the allegations.
The special Russian government plane sent to Washington to carry the Russian diplomats who were expelled from the United States in a new round of Russia sanctions returned to Moscow two hours into Monday. While still in the air, the diplomats were informed by the flight commander that their children were invited to come to the Kremlin New Year’s Party, the Russian presidential press service said Monday. On Thursday, White House declared 35 Russian diplomats persona non grata and ordered the closure of two Russian diplomatic compounds in the US, which serve as leisure facilities. The sanctions were imposed by US President Barack Obama’s administration as a response to alleged Russian hacking of US individuals and entities ahead of the US presidential elections.
Turkey Hunt underway for gunman killed 39
Turkey, the manhunt continues for a gunman who killed 39 people including 2 Indians in an Istanbul nightclub as country marked the start of the new year. The unknown assailant opened fire at Reina nightclub early yesterday, before managing to flee amid the chaos.
The motive for the attack is not clear, but suspicion has fallen on the Islamic State terror group, already linked to at least two terror attacks in Turkey last year. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, such groups tried to create chaos. They are trying to demoralise people and destabilise country, he added. Turkey’s PM Binali Yildirim also confirmed the gunman was not dressed as Santa Claus, contradicting earlier reports.
Earlier, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu confirmed a manhunt for the terrorist is under way. Police have launched operations and the attacker will be captured soon. More than half of those killed in the attack were foreign, according to the state run Anadolu Agency. Among them were citizens from Israel, France, Tunisia, Lebanon, India, Belgium, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
The club, which sits on the banks of the Bosphorus, is one of Istanbul’s most upmarket venues often frequented by singers and sports stars. At least 69 people are being treated in hospital, with three in serious condition.
Petrol price hiked by 1.29 per litre & diesel by 97 paise
Petrol price has gone up by one rupee 29 paise and diesel by 97 paise per litre excluding state levies as the new rates will came into effect from midnight tonight. With this Petrol will now cost 70 rupees 60 paise a litre in Delhi, 73 rupees 13 paise in Kolkata, 76 rupees 91 paise in Mumbai and 70 rupees 7 paise in Chennai.
For diesel, the consumer will have to pay 57 rupees 82 paise per litre in Delhi, 60 rupees 6 paise in Kolkata, 63 rupees 61 paise in Mumbai and 59 rupees 47 paise in Chennai. In a statement, Indian Oil Corporation said, the upward revision of the price was necessitated due to increase in international prices of Petrol and Diesel and rupee- dollar exchange rate.
PM Modi to address rally in Lucknow
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a rally in Lucknow today. Union ministers and MPs representing Uttar Pradesh at Centre have already reached Lucknow to take part in the rally.
BJP President Amit Shah, senior leaders Rajnath Singh, Kalraj Mishra and Uma Bharti are among those attending the rally. People from every nook and corner of the state including Awadh, Kanpur and Brij regions have already started arriving in Lucknow despite the winter chill. Party spokesman Chandra Mohan said today’s rally will set the tone for change in Uttar Pradesh.
The rally is seen as a culmination of the four Parivartan yatras carried out by the BJP in the state recently. It will be the first rally by Mr Modi after the expiry of 50-day grace period of demonetisation on December 30. The Prime Minister in a televised address to the nation on New Year’s Eve announced several measures for the rural and urban poor, small businesses, farmers and senior citizens.
Mulayam Singh Yadav postponed January 5 emergency convention to bank on Election commission decsion
Uttar Pradesh, Mulayam Singh Yadav has postponed the January 5 emergency convention called by him yesterday. No fresh date has been announced for the convention.
Giving this information through a tweet message, senior party leader Shivpal Singh Yadav also called also upon the candidates given ticket and all the workers of Samajwadi Party to go into their respective areas and work hard to win the election.
Sources said that Mulayam Singh is leaving for Delhi today to meet the Election Commission in order to claim that he is the President of Samajwadi Party.
AIR correspondent reports that as per sources close to CM, Akhilesh has called a meeting of all party MLAs, MLCs and leaders at his residence.
It will be the first meeting of Akhilesh Yadav with his follower leaders after he was appointed national president of the party yesterday. More events may unfold today as thousands of Akhilesh followers have already accumulated in front of party HQ and CM official residence.
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