[THE INVESTOR] Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin was questioned by prosecutors on April 7 amid the ongoing investigation into the corruption scandal involving former President Park Geun-hye.
The Lotte chief appeared at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office early in the morning to testify about the influence-peddling scandal.
Prosecutors are trying to determine if donations Lotte gave to two dubious foundations allegedly controlled by Park’s friend Choi Soon-sil were bribes in return for business favors when it was bidding for a new duty-free business rights.
The retail giant was selected by the Korea Customs Service to operate the lucrative shop in Seoul, together with Hyundai and Shinsegae, in December.
By Song Seung-hyun and newswires (ssh@heraldcorp.com)