Chapter 128
Chapter 128
128.
The New Year Begins with the Prosecution (1)
The year had passed.
Amidst all that, Im Hee-yeon sat in the chairman's office and presented the Comprehensive Audit Report that Myung Joong-hwan had instructed her to prepare.
After reviewing the contents, Myung Joong-hwan let out a natural sigh.
"The rotten parts have only increased over the past year."
It was the result of inspecting all affiliates, including the MH Group headquarters.
In particular, the holes in the Financial Statement Analysis were glaringly obvious, leaving him feeling utterly dismayed. Moreover, there were so many problems with the operating funds that he didn't know where to begin.
"For now, the personal issues of the employees that were dealt with immediately were handled right after the audit of the relevant affiliates. As for the rest, I will act according to your decisions, Chairman."
"Embezzling commissions by setting up a company under a family member's name in trade, unauthorized leakage of parts in Motors? They're really doing all sorts of things."
That wasn't all. There were countless other detailed issues on 10 pages of A4 paper.
Of course, creating a company as transparent as air was nearly impossible.
However, Myung Joong-hwan thought he had been working hard to make it as close to that as possible, but he realized once again that even the cleanest water would stagnate and rot if left standing.
"Weren't you aware of some of these issues, Chairman?"
At that question, Myung Joong-hwan cleared his throat as if making an excuse.
"Ahem―!"
"Anyway, I've handed over the matters requiring legal action to the legal team, so a report will be submitted soon."
"The start of this year begins with the police and the prosecution."
This was because the issues with MH Electronics and MH Foods were also causing a stir. Of course, the MH Electronics side was expected to be resolved without much trouble as those who caused the accident had returned to the country, but MH Foods was quite serious.
First of all, those who suffered damage from the moldy food had filed a lawsuit against the MH Foods LA factory through the American courts.
Of course, Im Hee-yeon understood the meaning of his words well.
"Shouldn't President Myung Sung-chul go to the United States himself to resolve the MH Foods issue?"
"I've already told him. Finding the cause of the problem is important, but we can't turn a blind eye to the situation where victims have occurred."
"I think so too."
Various concerns were exchanged.
Then, with a knock, Gu Sang-ho hurriedly entered.
"What is it?"
Just by looking at Gu Sang-ho's expression, one could sense that something serious had happened.
"The prosecution has arrived with a Search and Seizure Warrant."
"...A Search Warrant? What for?"
If it was about the MH Foods issue, the United States was investigating, so it had nothing to do with the Korean prosecution.
Other than that, there were only matters regarding the audit, but it was MH Group headquarters that would file a complaint, not the prosecution coming with a Search Warrant.
"They say they received an Anonymous Tip about Stock Insider Trading charges at MH Future Security."
"What?!"
"They just arrived in the lobby and are coming up."
"Is CEO Baek Shin-woo in his office right now?"
"He probably is."
Myung Joong-hwan's brow furrowed deeply. Of course, MH Future Security was one of the affiliates, but its location was at the MH Group headquarters.
No matter how much of a tip they received, the prosecution had appeared with a Search Warrant based solely on the tip without any prior notice.
Unable to understand the situation, Myung Joong-hwan opened his mouth with a heavy expression.
"Did you confirm who they are and where they're from?"
"It's Roh Seung-jin, a prosecutor from the Central District Prosecutors' Office Anti-Corruption Investigation Department. He's targeting CEO Baek Shin-woo."
"Who was the chief prosecutor there?"
At that question, Gu Sang-ho answered without hesitation.
"It's Chief Prosecutor Ahn Sang-hye. Shall I contact her immediately?"
Myung Joong-hwan nodded and took the phone that Gu Sang-ho had connected. He switched it to speakerphone so that Im Hee-yeon could listen as well.
[It's been a while, Chairman Myung Joong-hwan.]
Soon, a middle-aged woman's voice was heard over the receiver.
"Greetings aside, a person named Roh Seung-jin, a prosecutor from the Central District Prosecutors' Office, just arrived at our headquarters with a Search Warrant. Shouldn't you explain that?"
[The warrant I approved is for MH Future Security and CEO Baek Shin-woo, though.]
Myung Joong-hwan's face hardened even more at the playful tone.
"What are you trying to do right now? Do you think I'm saying this because I don't know where it is?"
[I know that too. And our Central District Prosecutors' Office moved after conducting its own investigation. After looking at MH Future Security's financial transaction history, there were quite a few suspicious points.]
Myung Joong-hwan couldn't help but become more agitated.
"Are you sure you'll be okay after creating this situation?"
[Someone who eats from the national treasury can't work carelessly. And if there's no evidence, they'll be released without any problems.]
"Then, what's the reason for issuing the Search Warrant?"
[We also have to consider the risk of concealing evidence. Anyway, given the situation, I should refrain from private calls.]
Click―
The call ended just like that.
After a moment of silence, Im Hee-yeon's breathing began to quicken as if she had a bag over her head.
"Huff― Huff―!"
"Hee-yeon! Are you okay? Secretary Gu!"
"It seems like she's having Hyperventilation due to stress."
Gu Sang-ho immediately went outside, grabbed a paper bag, and covered Im Hee-yeon's mouth with it.
In response, Im Hee-yeon took deep breaths in and out, gradually calming down. Then, she took out a small container from her pocket, opened it, and took some medicine.
"Bring some water too."
This time, Gu Sang-ho moved and poured water for her.
Im Hee-yeon swallowed the medicine and remained silent for a while.
Myung Joong-hwan, who was watching her from the side, had a worried expression.
"Are you okay? What's that medicine for?"
It took a little longer for Im Hee-yeon to calm down. Then, as her breathing completely subsided, she slowly opened her mouth.
"Hoo... It's medicine I've been taking lately. Things weren't too good because of what happened in China..."
The torture she suffered in the abandoned factory, the gunshots and screams that seemed to tear her eardrums.
The PTSD Symptoms that resulted from it did not disappear easily. Even now, Im Hee-yeon had nightmares of those events every time she fell asleep.
"What to do about this..."
"I'm a little better after taking the medicine. More than that, what about Shinwoo? If the prosecution is coming out like that, it means they've prepared something thoroughly."
Myung Joong-hwan also thought about going down immediately, but he held back because it might attract even more attention.
"Let's see how the situation unfolds first. I won't stand still either."
If the chief prosecutor wouldn't do, there were higher-ups as well. Of course, he didn't know how much the Central District Prosecutors' Office had prepared.
But just by issuing the Search Warrant, it was clear that they were determined.
"I'll look into it too."
"What are you going to do when you're not feeling well? Just stay still."
"How can I do that?"
"It's not like there's a solution even if you go there now. So leave it to me. I'll send the legal team right away too."
Myung Joong-hwan looked at Gu Sang-ho. Understanding what he meant, Gu Sang-ho immediately went outside.
* * *
Shinwoo was in his office when he was taken away by the prosecutors for Voluntary Accompaniment. Meanwhile, the office was turned upside down by the investigators.
Afterwards, Shinwoo arrived at the Central District Prosecutors' Office and was seated in the Interrogation Room.
After a quiet time, the door opened and a man entered.
"I'm Roh Seung-jin, a prosecutor from the Anti-Corruption Investigation Department 2, who will be in charge of Baek Shin-woo's case. It's not easy to see famous figures in the business world in official settings like this."
At the lengthy greeting, Shinwoo sat calmly and looked at him.
"I saw your name on the warrant."
"Then you'll understand quickly. You know why you're here, right?"
"I heard it's Insider Trading Charges."
"That's right. We launched an investigation after receiving a tip, and after checking MH Future Security's accounts, we discovered a lot of suspicious circumstances."
Shinwoo tilted his head.
"What kind of suspicious circumstances are you talking about?"
At this question, Roh Seung-jin opened the documents he had brought and shuffled through them.
"MH Future Security was established and for about 3 months, the Short-Term Net Profit alone was at least 150% to a maximum of 300%. You turned an initial investment of 20 billion won into tens of billions... Isn't that strange?"
The documents were turned over so that Shinwoo could see them. The graph inside only showed an upward curve until the end.
"I didn't know that making a lot of money was a crime."
"It's not the crime, it's the method that's the problem. After checking, Baek Shin-woo graduated from elementary and middle school in Jangheung, Jeollanam-do. After graduating from high school in Mokpo, you enlisted as a non-commissioned officer. You were discharged as a staff sergeant after completing 4 years of service, right? You joined MH Group after that."
"That's right."
"Frankly, you didn't study business administration or economics, did you? But after joining MH Group, every investment you make is successful? Would Baek Shin-woo believe such a story?"
"You have such a person right in front of you."
Roh Seung-jin felt unpleasant at Shinwoo's answer and let out a long sigh.
"Hoo―! You seem to be mistaken that I've put you in this position to joke around, but don't you understand the situation?"
Shinwoo was not fazed by the pressuring shout. Rather, it only felt like he was overdoing it and struggling.
"What's in front of me isn't evidence, is it? Didn't I tell you earlier? Making a lot of money isn't a crime. I just made a lot of money, but does that become evidence that I committed Insider Trading?"
In the meantime, there was a knock and a middle-aged man entered with an investigator.
"I'm Jeon Hyeong-beom, an attorney from MH Group's legal team, who came as CEO Baek Shin-woo's legal representative. Let's talk from now on."
"You seem to be later than I expected."
"I had to grasp the situation, so I came now after checking a few things. So you requested my client's Voluntary Accompaniment on charges of Insider Trading?"
Roh Seung-jin looked at Jeon Hyeong-beom with a slightly annoyed expression.
"That's right. First, look at the data in front of you. See if that's the profit margin that Baek Shin-woo could achieve without Insider Trading."
However, Jeon Hyeong-beom did not check such documents.
"Does the Central District Prosecutors' Office think that such data is valid as evidence?"
"There are also account details there. A considerable amount of funds have been transferred overseas, can you explain that?"
Roh Seung-jin also expected a lawyer to come. So it was only after he came that he asked clearly, not Shinwoo.
Only then did Jeon Hyeong-beom turn over the documents and check the account details. However, it was difficult to say anything because he had not come after grasping the entire situation.
In response, Shinwoo looked at the contents from the side and opened his mouth.
"It's investment from overseas companies."
"The average amount is about 4 million dollars. That's about 5.2 billion won in Korean currency, is all of that investment?"
"You'll understand if you look at the data you'll secure with the Search Warrant."
"That's something we can't know."
At that time, there was another knock and the investigator who had guided the lawyer came in and whispered something to Roh Seung-jin.
At the same time, Roh Seung-jin's expression became serious and he stared at Shinwoo.
"They say that all the stock information and customer information we secured is encrypted."
"It's company data, so it's locked for security. That's how customers can trust us and invest."
Roh Seung-jin's brow furrowed at Shinwoo's calm explanation.
"It's only going to be disadvantageous for Baek Shin-woo if you don't cooperate like this."
"Isn't this Voluntary Accompaniment? And the prosecution is the one who has to find the evidence. I don't think I have an obligation to open investment and customer information."
In fact, Roh Seung-jin had requested a Search Warrant for Shinwoo's company because he had received instructions from above. He thought that he could just secure the evidence with the Search Warrant.
In addition to the tip, he saw some suspicious circumstances when he checked MH Future Security's company accounts.
However, as Jeon Hyeong-beom said earlier, he had not yet found any evidence that he could point to.