Seoul District Criminal Court held its fourth hearing in the trial of Bang Sang-hoon, president of the Chosun Ilbo, for alleged tax evasion and embezzlement, Monday, in which two drivers working for Bang were questioned about their duties. The prosecution claimed that the two worked for Bang in a private capacity and so paying them using company funds was embezzlement. However, the defense argued that the two also performed official company work as well as driving Bang and so this charge was unsubstantiated.
Both drivers said that they had worked as chauffeurs for Bang, but also engaged in shift work with drivers of company vehicles as well as transporting the president and his family to official events. They both testified that their current employment was on a contract basis following retirement from the Chosun Ilbo.
Defense lawyers, presented the corporate tax bill receipts of the Chosun Ilbo of W290 billion, and requested confirmation by the National Tax Service of gift tax payments by Bang's family.
The fifth hearing is scheduled for January 25, in which the president of Chogwang Publishing and Printing, a Chosun Ilbo subsidiary, will be questioned.
(Lee Myong-jin, mjlee@chosun.com)
