Nam Under Probe for Allegedly Bribing President’s Brother


By Na Jeong-ju
Staff Reporter
Former Daewoo Engineering & Construction president Nam Sang-kook committed suicide by jumping off a bridge into the Han River in Seoul on Thursday, police said.

A passenger car owned by his wife was found at the south end of the Hannam Bridge over the river minutes after police began a search following a report.

Police found a cellular phone of Nam’s son at the bottom of the river below the bridge, but his body has not been found yet. Nam made two phone calls using the phones of his son and his secretary just before the death, police said.

The police search began after the National Police Agency received an emergency phone call at 12:50 from a prosecutor, who was contacted by Nam’s lawyer.

Nam, 59, has been under investigation for allegedly paying 30 million won to President Roh Moo-hyun’s elder brother, Roh Kun-pyong, last year. He wanted to seek Roh’s influence to retain his position as the president of the Daewoo firm, but failed, the state prosecution said.

Nam allegedly called the chief of Daewoo’s legal affairs team, identified as Shin, after watching Roh’s news conference in the morning, and said he decided to kill himself. Shin contacted Nam’s lawyer immediately and warned of his suicide, police said.

During the conference, Roh, underscoring his determination to prevent corruption using his power, said he turned down a request from his brother to help Nam retain his post. The Daewoo firm is under probe over its donations of illegal funds to politicians during Nam’s term from 2001 to 2003.

Police said they received a fax at 12:25 p.m., from a witness saying he saw a man jumping off into the river. When police arrived at the suicide scene, the door of the car was locked, with its sidelights on.

Nam’s lawyer said Nam told the company legal head that he would jump into the Han River, taking his responsibility for the lobby and fund scandal. The lawyer tried in vain to contact Nam after receiving a call from the legal chief. The lawyer then called the prosecutor in charge of Nam’s case and asked for Nam’s protection, police said.

Roh Kun-pyong was indicted on bribery charges Wednesday regarding the money he took from Nam. The money later was returned after Nam failed to win re-appointment.

Investigators searched the construction firm’s Seoul office on January 8 as part of an investigation into the illegal funding during the 2002 presidential election. Nam was detained on the day and was questioned for two days.

Prosecutors have found the firm gave 300 million won to former ruling party leader Rep. Chyung Dai-chul and 200 million won to Ahn Hee-jung, an aide to President Roh. Lawmakers Song Young-jin and Park Sang-kyu each received 200 million won and lawyer Seo Jeong-woo, a key fundraiser for former presidential candidate Lee Hoi-chang, also took 1.5 billion won in illegal funds, according to the prosecution.

jj@koreatimes.co.kr