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Controversy is increasing over the procedures used by the independent counsel to summon and question Lee Hak-soo, the vice chairman of Samsung Group, in connection with allegations that the nation’s largest conglomerate created slush funds. Lee is a key suspect in the case, as one of a group of executives who allegedly masterminded the conglomerate’s efforts to create slush funds. Lee also faces other charges involving an illegal transfer of wealth from Samsung Group’s Chairman Lee Kun-hee to his only son Jae-yong. He was summoned last Thursday by the independent counsel team led by Prosecutor Cho Joon-woong.

The controversy is that the decision to call in Lee for questioning was made only by Cho, and was not shared with the other investigators on the team. He also incited an outcry by releasing the key suspect without an affidavit, and reportedly asking for his help in the ongoing probe.

The independent counsel has reportedly been preparing to summon Lee in connection with the Samsung probe. An official of the prosecution said, “It is basic procedure to call in a key suspect such as Lee at the last minute after major charges have been confirmed. It is unusual to summon a person with other investigation members not knowing about it.”

Another problem is that when Lee was questioned, none of the prosecutors investigating the case were present. Cho met Lee in his office alone, and was joined by some of the prosecutors assigned to the case, including Yun Jung-sok, Cho Dae-hwan, Jegal Bok-sung only after the session had begun. “Though we didn’t write an affidavit, Lee was questioned as a suspect according to procedure,” Yun said.

Still, some insiders say that the encounter between Cho and Lee was nothing more than a personal meeting, and was not part of the investigation. An anonymous source from the prosecution said, “When somebody is summoned, it is a matter of principle that an affidavit be written ... It would have been more effective to call in Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee than the vice chairman if the independent counsel team had wanted to send a warning message to the conglomerate not to hamper the ongoing probe.”

Cho Young-sun, secretary-general of the civic group Lawyers for a Democratic Society, said, “It is doubtful as to how effective it was to send a warning message by meeting a criminal suspect like that ... It might rather cause a misunderstanding, that the independent counsel team attempted to make some kind of deal with Samsung by holding such an inappropriate meeting.”

In response to the criticism, a member of the team said, “We need to know what Samsung is thinking at this moment to determine whether to use sticks, carrots or both in conducting probe. The move to summon Lee might be a part of efforts to discover Samsung’s intentions.”

Another team member added, “We know that with the move, the independent counsel team made it clear that it would call in Chairman Lee and his son Jae-yong if Samsung hampers the ongoing investigation.” He also noted nothing in the course of the interrogation was misunderstood.



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