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Prosecutors say they have evidence that former presidential secretary Byeon Yang-kyoon abused his influence to help the Buddhist Heungdeok Temple in Ulju County get W1 billion in government subsidies (US$1=W921). The temple was founded by the Ven. Youngbae, the chairman of the board of Dongguk University, which hired the now disgraced curator Shin Jeong-ah as an assistant professor despite doubts about her qualifications. Shin and Byeon were apparently in a close relationship. A county official told prosecutors that since the county opposed subsidies to the temple, which is privately owned by the monk, Byeon threatened to cut off central government support to the local government.
Prosecutors are also considering pressing bribery charges against Byeon in the belief that Dongguk University was given government subsidies in return for hiring Shin as an assistant professor in September 2005, when the ex-presidential secretary was planning and budget minister. Prosecutors will ask the court to grant an arrest warrant for Byeon as soon as Friday on charges of abuse of office, bribery and preventing the Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs and Ulju County from exercising their authorities. Prosecutors will again apply for an arrest warrant for Shin, adding embezzlement to the charges.
Shin told prosecutors Wednesday that she gave part of donations she collected from large corporations to Sungkok Art Museum director Park Moon-soon and in return received an expensive necklace and W20 million, which she used as a deposit on a rental home. Park denied giving the money to Shin but admitted giving her a W18 million necklace, apparently to express appreciation for her efforts in collecting huge financial contributions from corporations.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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