NIS Funds Investigation

[Anchor Lead]

The prosecution plans to summon former heads of the National Intelligence Service this week to find out where the spy agency's 4 billion won in special activities funds delivered to Cheong Wa Dae were actually spent. Prosecutors are also reviewing the option of visiting ousted former President Park Geun-hye in jail for questioning.

[Pkg]

The investigation into the National Intelligence Service's special activities fund is taking a two-track approach. The prosecution is trying to find out how 4 billion won of NIS money was delivered to Cheong Wa Dae and what the money was used for. Having discovered the rough outline of the situation from former NIS officer Lee Heon-su, the prosecution plans to summons former NIS heads Nam Jae-joon, Lee Byung-kee, and Lee Byung-ho this week to confirm whether ex-President Park Geun-hye had ordered the delivery of the funds. The prosecution is also tracking where the 4 billion won from NIS to Cheong Wa Dae actually went. The two presidential secretaries who had received the money, Ahn Bong-geun and Lee Jae-man, have testified that they don't know what the money was used for. Now the prosecutors are looking at Lee Young-sun, Park's former bodyguard and one of her close administrative aides. He may know about the money's use since he had accompanied Choi Soon-sil on her visits to the ex-president's dress shop and allowed private healers to enter Cheong Wa Dae. However, Lee, who is in prison for violating medical laws, is not responding to the summons. The prosecution is reviewing the option of getting a separate warrant and arresting him. Also under review is a plan to visit the Seoul Detention Center to question the jailed ex-president directly.