Seize Computer Files, Documents Over Wiretapping Scandal


By Kim Tong-hyung
Staff Reporter


Prosecutors raided the headquarters of the National Intelligence Service (NIS) Friday, looking into computer files and documents, in the latest development of their investigation into the spy agency’s wiretapping operations.


An investigation team of the bugging scandal passes through the main gate of the National Intelligence Service in southern Seoul, Friday, on its way to seize computer files and documents. It marked the first time for the prosecution to be granted access to the spy agency’s headquarters with a search warrant. / Yonhap


It marked the first time for law enforcement authorities to be granted access to the spy agency’s headquarters with a search warrant.
A team of about 40 prosecutors, computer specialists and telecommunication experts examined computer records, documents and other related data at the NIS headquarters in Naegok-dong, southern Seoul, after receiving the search warrant late Thursday.

The investigators are looking for evidence that could determine the extent of the spy agency’s illegal wiretapping operations on civilians over the past years.

In a shocking revelation earlier this month, the NIS admitted that it illegally bugged conversations of high-profile politicians, businessmen and media figures from the early 1990s and until March 2002 at the end of the Kim Dae-jung government.

The announcement came after law enforcement authorities last month searched the house of an ex-state intelligence agent and recovered 274 audiotapes containing wiretapped conversations and 13 documents containing the transcripts.

The NIS insists that it destroyed all of its collected data and materials after it stopped the operations of its special wiretapping unit in March 2002, downplaying the possibilities that the outside inspection on its headquarters could produce any new evidence.

The prosecutors are hoping to increase its collection of evidence as it prepares to expand its probe on the wiretapping scandal and question former NIS directors and high-rank officials to confirm their possible involvement in the past illegal operations.

Prosecutors are planning to bring in Uri Party lawmaker Chon Yong-taek, who headed the spy agency in 2002, and other former and incumbent NIS officials for questioning. Lee Jong-chan, who became the first NIS director under former President Kim Dae-jung in 1998, could also be summoned. Lee, who retired from the spy agency in 1999, came back to Seoul from his extended stay in the United States Friday.

The wiretapping scandal first erupted last month, when local television station MBC reported the contents of some of the spy agency’s wiretapped audiotapes.

The tapes included a conversation between Samsung Group vice chairman Lee Hak-soo and Korean Ambassador to U.S. Hong Seok-hyun, then publisher of the Samsung-affiliated newspaper JoongAng Ilbo.

The tapes highlighted their discussion on plans to provide illegal campaign funds to presidential candidates ahead of the 1997 election.

Amb. Hong tendered his resignation right after the MBC report. Prosecutors earlier this month summoned Lee for questioning.

There is a possibility that the prosecutors may summon Samsung chairman Lee Kun-hee on his possible involvement in the provision of slush funds, according to law enforcement officials.

Amid increasing public pressure to push their investigation on Korea’s largest conglomerate further, the prosecutors received a warrant to seize Samsung’s records of bonds transactions at the Korea Securities Depositary Friday.

This indicates that the prosecutors could reopen their investigation on Samsung’s illegal funding for presidential candidates ahead of the 2002 elections. In the first investigation in 2003, prosecutors concluded that Samsung provided more than 38 billion won in illegal funds.

During the 2003 investigation, prosecutors revealed that Samsung purchased 80 billion won in bonds between 2000 and 2002, of which 30 billion won were given to politicians. However, investigators had failed to discover what the remaining 50 billion won was used for.

thkim@koreatimes.co.kr