건설업자 윤모(52) 씨의 별장 성접대 의혹을 조사중인 경찰이 이미 의혹을 받고 있는 김학의 법무차관 외에 다른 유력 고위 공직자들도 접대 대상에 포함, 수사를 확대하고 있는 것으로 드러났다.

22일, 경찰이 피해 여성 등을 통해 확보한 진술에 따르면 이미 사퇴한 김학의 차관 외에도 국정원 고위 간부, 전 •현직 경찰 수뇌부, 병원장, 전•현직 언론인 등 최소 10여명이 윤씨의 별장에서 성관계를 한 것으로 알려졌다.

경찰은 성접대 의혹을 받고 있는 인사들이 윤씨로부터 접대를 받은 뒤 공사 수주와 각종 인허가에서 특혜를 준 것이 아닌지도 따져보고 있다. 또 윤씨가 이미 여러 차례에 걸쳐 사기•횡령• 특수강간 등 혐의로 고소•고발 당했으나 모두 무혐의 처리된 것에 대해, 이번 ‘별장 성접대’ 사건과 연관성이 있는지 수사하고 있다.

이번 사건이 알려진 것은 윤씨와 내연관계였던 권모(52) 씨가 지난해 윤씨를 경찰에 성폭행•공갈 혐의 등으로 고소하면서부터. 수사 중, 윤씨가 고위층 성접대 상황을 담은 영상물을 보관하고 있다는 진술이 나와 수사가 확대됐다.

이번 성접대 파문의 핵심인 동영상은 윤씨가 사회 유력 인사들을 강원도 원주 별장으로 불러, 술자리와 성접대를 제공하며, 이 중 일부 인사들을 골라 동영상을 찍어놓고 나중에 이권을 요구하거나 협박하는 데 이용한 것으로 경찰은 보고 있다

경찰은 현재 권씨로부터 2분 분량의 동영상을 확보하고 국과수에 분석을 의뢰, 촬영 장소와 등장인물을 분석하고 있다.

만일, 동영상이 사실이라면, 파장이 클 것으로 예상된다. 하지만, 동영상에 찍힌 사실만으로는 형사처벌이 어려워, 경찰 수사는 ‘별장 성접대’ 가 어떤 대가 성으로 이뤄 졌는지, 접대 대상에게 청탁과 함께 금품을 건네 정황이 있는지 입증하는데 초점이 맞춰질 것으로 보인다.

(코리아헤럴드 / 오규욱 기자)



<관련 영문 기사>

Police consider expanding sex-for-favors scandal probe

Police said Friday they are considering widening their investigation into other high-ranking officials possibly implicated in a burgeoning sex-for-favors scandal that rocked the nation and forced a vice justice minister to resign.

“We can investigate other figures if they are considered relevant to the crime. … We secured testimonies of two or three women who claim to be victims,” a police official was quoted as telling Yonhap News.

On Thursday, Vice Justice Minister Kim Hak-ui resigned amid his alleged involvement in the scandal where a number of high-ranking officials allegedly received sexual services from a contractor identified by his surname Yoon in exchange for exerting their influence.

The case showed signs of escalating into a full-fledged scandal as news reports raised fresh allegations that an official from the National Intelligence Service could also be involved.

Police believe at least 10 people from government, judiciary, medical and media industries are among guests Yoon invited to his holiday home in Gangwon Province for the sex party.

The allegations were first brought to surface by a businesswoman surnamed Kwon, who once had personal relations with Yoon, in the process of a legal battle between the two.

Kwon had testified that Yoon hired women to provide sexual services for influential figures from a wide range of fields at his luxury country home in Wonju between 2008 and 2012, and that he filmed the scenes and kept the video footage as blackmail.

The rumor has since snowballed with claims that Kim Hak-ui was thought to be one of the officials in the video.

Kim is suspected of having visited Yoon’s holiday home in 2009 while he was serving as head of the regional prosecutor’s office.

Police have reportedly obtained statements from Kwon and other woman who identified the man in the video is Kim.

Kim has been denying the allegations saying that he will take legal action against the news reports.

The police are currently inspecting a two-minute-long sex video clip believed used for bribery by Yoon, and are now seeking out a search warrant for his country house in Wonju to secure further evidence.

They also imposed a travel ban on Yoon and summoned his nephew, who is thought to have collaborated with Yoon.

Observers say if the allegations turn out to be true, the sexual bribery scandal will be an unprecedented case in the country involving a number of high-rank social leaders.

But it so far remains unclear whether and how the involved parties will be prosecuted. It is generally considered difficult for suspects to face criminal charges for simply appearing on a video as it is difficult to prove the connection between the sexual service and compensation. To be prosecuted, clear evidence of lobbying and exchanging money in return for sex are required.

(596story@heraldcorp.com)