[앵커]
The prosecution, which has been investigating allegations of bid-rigging among the seven major Korean steelmakers, has requested arrest warrants for seven executives at each steelmaker.
The amount of collusion was found to reach 6.8 trillion won, the largest ever.
As soon as new recruits have been secured for executives, the prosecution intends to continue investigating the highest ranks.
This is reporter Kim Hye-rin.
[기자]
Prosecutors have requested arrest warrants for seven executives of Korea’s seven largest steelmakers who are suspected of fraud.
Seven steelmakers, including Hyundai Steel and Dongkuk Steel, have been accused of unfairly gaining sales by colluding in public bids for rebar between 2012 and 2018.
From time to time, the Public Procurement Service places orders for bars worth KRW 1 trillion per year for use by public institutions, and steelmakers share the amount of successful bids in advance and even in mix the offer price before bidding.
At a total of 6.8 trillion won, this is the largest ever in government-level bid rigging.
In August, the Fair Trade Commission caught these allegations, imposed a fine of 256.5 billion won, and reported the company and nine former and current employees to the prosecution.
[조홍선 / 공정거래위원회 카르텔조사국장 (지난 8월) : 입찰 당일 국내 7대 제강사와 압연사의 입찰담당자들은 대전역 인근 식당 등에서 모여 이와 같은 과정을 통해 최종 결정된 업체별 배분물량과 투찰 가격을 점검하고, 투찰 예행연습까지도 했습니다.]
In particular, during the prosecution’s investigation, which began in earnest with the seizure and search of Hyundai Steel and Dongkuk Steel on the 12th of last month, circumstances beyond the executives and staff charged by the FTC were caught .
Accordingly, the prosecution sought additional charges from the Fair Trading Commission.
First of all, arrest warrants were requested for each of the executives with the most serious part of seven steel manufacturers, but the investigation of the prosecution looks higher.
An official from the prosecution emphasized that, in this case, we will get rid of the chronic ailments of the industry as it has also led to the loss of the national treasury.
The prosecution plans to speed up investigations targeting hypocrites, such as representatives of all steelmakers, as soon as they secure new recruits for executives.
This is Kim Hye-rin’s YTN.
YTN Kim Hye-rin (khr0809@ytn.co.kr)
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