Ex-gov`t inspector admits to taking money but denies bribery

Eun Jin-soo, a former inspection commissioner at the Board of Audit and Inspection, is known to have admitted to taking money from a now-suspended savings bank but not as bribes.

Prosecutors said Sunday that they will issue an arrest warrant for him on the charge of taking more than 100 million won (92,300 U.S. dollars) in bribes from Busan Savings Bank Group.

Eun reported to the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office for questioning at 11 a.m. on whether he received bribes in return for concealing audit results on the bank by the government watchdog.

He is suspected of receiving a combined 70 million won (64,600 dollars) in cash and a diamond worth 30 million won (27,700 dollars) from a broker closed to the bank`s vice president Kim Yang. The broker was also arrested.

Prosecutors are grilling Eun based on a statement that Yoon gave the diamond to Eun at Eun`s request. Another allegation has it that Eun’s brother took bribes worth 100 million won as well.

Eun is known to have admitted to receiving money but denying that strings were attached.

In addition, prosecutors found clues that Yoon asked Eun to cover up the results of a joint inspection of the bank by the Financial Supervisory Service and Korea Deposit Insurance Corp. and the audit results of the Board of the Audit and Inspection.

At the request, Eun exchanged e-mail and mobile phone messages with the bank`s major shareholders to prevent the bank`s operations from being suspended, prosecutors said.

Since he confirmed the allegation in questioning, prosecutors will seek an arrest warrant for him on charges of graft.

Separately, prosecutors are investigating the allegation that the bank lobbied government officials via Park Hyeong-seon, head of Haedong Construction, to avoid tax audits of a special purpose company the bank established.

The bank’s vice president Kim confessed that he asked Park to prevent tax audits in return for 150 million won (139,000 dollars).

Park reportedly denied the claim, however, saying, “I got the request from Kim but never received money.”

ceric@donga.com